Coco Gauff: American tennis star Coco Gauff has made history once again, capturing her first-ever French Open title after defeating World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in a thrilling three-set battle on Saturday. In front of a roaring crowd at Court Philippe-Chatrier, Gauff rallied from a set down to clinch a 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4 victory, marking her second Grand Slam title after the 2023 U.S. Open.
The 21-year-old came into the match ranked No. 2 in the world and faced immense pressure against the top seed. The final marked a rare and historic showdown between the world’s top two players — the first at Roland Garros since Serena Williams faced Maria Sharapova in 2013. It was a battle filled with high drama, long rallies, and constant shifts in momentum.
In the opening set, Sabalenka jumped to a 4-1 lead with aggressive play, taking command early with deep groundstrokes and forceful net approaches. But Gauff stayed composed, breaking back twice and pushing the set into a tiebreaker. Although Gauff led 4-1 in the breaker, Sabalenka stormed back to take it 7-5, clinching the opener in 77 minutes.
Unfazed by the setback, Gauff came out with renewed energy in the second set. She immediately broke Sabalenka’s serve, played more inside the baseline, and capitalized on the Belarusian’s rising error count. With clean winners and solid serving, Gauff stormed through the second set 6-2 to level the match.
The final set showcased both players at their mental and physical limits. After exchanging early breaks, Gauff took control with a dominant love break at 3-3, highlighted by a backhand crosscourt winner. Serving for the title at 5-4, Gauff saved a break point and clinched the match after a breathtaking rally, dropping to the clay in celebration.
This win not only gives Gauff her first Roland Garros trophy but also solidifies her place among the elite in women’s tennis. She becomes the first American woman to win the French Open since Serena Williams in 2015, and the youngest since Williams’ breakthrough in 2002. Her victory also improves her head-to-head record against Sabalenka to 6-5 and gives her a 2-1 edge in Grand Slam matchups.
Gauff’s triumph also brings her 2,000 ranking points and a prize purse of €2,550,000. She will maintain her No. 2 spot in the PIF WTA Rankings and continues to rise in the Race to the WTA Finals in Riyadh. Her clay season has been remarkable, with 18 main-draw wins on the surface this year — more than any other player on the WTA Tour.
For Sabalenka, the loss is a missed opportunity to win her first French Open title and become the only active woman to have captured singles titles at three different Grand Slams. Despite the defeat, she remains World No. 1 and earned €1,275,000 for her runner-up finish.
Coco Gauff’s win in Paris is a defining moment in her young career. She continues to inspire a new generation of American tennis fans and now heads into the summer season with confidence, aiming for more success at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open later this year. With two Grand Slam titles by age 21, the future is bright for Gauff — and she’s just getting started.