Coco Gauff claimed the French Open women`s singles title, defeating Aryna Sabalenka in Paris and becoming the first American winner since Serena Williams. Sabalenka appeared frustrated during the match.
Gauff`s victory, secured after losing the first set on Court Philippe-Chatrier, marks the first time in ten years that an American woman has won the coveted Roland Garros championship.
In the final held under an open roof, the second seed, Gauff (21), faced the top seed, Sabalenka. After a battle lasting over two and a half hours, Gauff emerged victorious with a score of 6-7, 6-2, 6-4. Notably, football icon Eric Cantona was among the spectators in the front row.
Having been a finalist in 2022 where she lost to Iga Swiatek, Gauff collapsed onto the clay court upon winning, visibly emotional and repeating, “Oh my God, oh my God.”
This French Open title is Gauff`s second Grand Slam victory, following her win against the same opponent, Aryna Sabalenka, at the 2023 US Open in New York. Both matches were decided in three sets.
The match was filled with tension and suspense, though perhaps not showcasing the highest level of tennis quality throughout.
Despite this, the quality level will be secondary for American fans, celebrating Gauff`s triumph on the main clay court at Roland Garros.
Sabalenka, known for her tenacity and recognizable by her tiger tattoo, fought hard in the first set. She recovered from a 4-1 deficit in the tie-break to win the set after an intense 80 minutes, taking a one-set lead.
This first set was the first women`s singles final opener at Roland Garros to be decided by a tie-break since the 1998 match between Arantxa Sanchez Vicario and Monica Seles.
However, the second seed Gauff dominated the rest of the match, winning 12 of the subsequent 18 games. She secured the championship, and the £2.1 million prize, on her second match point, which concluded in an unusual way.
On the decisive point, Gauff hit a forehand that seemed likely to go long, but it landed exactly on the line, forcing Sabalenka to quickly adjust. Sabalenka`s subsequent backhand then went wide, handing Gauff the victory and prompting her emotional collapse onto the clay.
Gauff, a native of Florida, is the first American woman to lift the Roland Garros singles trophy since Serena Williams achieved the feat in 2015.
At 21, she is also the youngest American women`s singles champion at the French Open since Serena Williams won it in 2002 at the age of 20.
World No. 1 Sabalenka showed visible frustration throughout the match, a familiar sight when things aren`t going her way. She was seen shouting towards her box and struggled to find the momentum needed to turn the match around against Gauff.
Following her win, Gauff shared a hug with film director Spike Lee before heading to her player`s box to celebrate with her family.
Receiving the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen from four-time French Open champion Justine Henin, Gauff expressed her gratitude: “I`d like to thank God. I`ve been through a lot since losing in the final here three years ago.”
She continued, “I`m incredibly happy to stand here as champion. Winning this means so much. Aryna, you are a true fighter.”
Gauff also thanked her team: “I know I can be intense and maybe not the easiest person at times, but my team always reminds me that there`s more to life than tennis. This perspective actually helps me play better on court.”
She extended her thanks to her parents, crediting them for everything from “washing my clothes” to “keeping me grounded and always believing in me.” “You are the reason I do this and my biggest inspiration,” she added.
Reflecting on her journey, she quoted Tyler, The Creator, saying, “I didn`t always believe I could do this, but to quote Tyler, The Creator: `If I ever told you I had a doubt inside me, I must be lying.` I`ll end on that.”
Sabalenka, meanwhile, found it difficult to watch the match highlights being shown on the stadium screens, covering her face with a towel in her chair.
Addressing the crowd, she became emotional and tearfully stated, “This defeat hurts incredibly.”
She added, “It`s especially painful after a tough two weeks where I played great tennis. Then, in these different conditions, we played terrible tennis in the final – that truly stings.”
Congratulating her opponent, Sabalenka said, “Coco, congratulations. In these difficult conditions, you were the better player today. You deserved this win. You are a fighter and a hard worker.”
She concluded by thanking her team for their support and apologizing for her performance in the final: “Thank you to my team for your support. I`m sorry for this terrible final performance. As always, I will come back stronger.”
