Gauff could face a stern test against Cocciaretto, who has beaten two seeded players in her three matches in Paris.
She came out on top in a tough three-setter in the first round against 13th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia and put in another impressive performance against Samsonova.
At 23, she is the youngest Italian woman to reach the last 16 at Roland Garros since Francesca Schiavone in 2001.
“I think I played unbelievable the first games, and after that I was over-thinking,” Cocciaretto said.
“I said to myself: play with the heart and not with the brain. It’s unbelievable for me right now.”
Serbia’s Danilovic was equally emotional when she beat Vekic to also reach the fourth round of a major for the first time.
The 23-year-old beat 11th seed Danielle Collins on Thursday and threw herself to the floor in triumph as she beat Vekic less than 24 hours later.
“I don’t know what to say, I have no words,” Danilovic said.
“There have been so many rain delays but the folks that come to watch, merci beaucoup. Going through for the first time means the world to me.”
Source Agencies
