PARIS — Coco Gauff has soared into her second final at Roland-Garros, defeating Loïs Boisson with a commanding score of 6-1, 6-2 on Thursday. This victory brings an end to the unexpected, thrilling journey of the French wild card entry, ranked No. 361.
The triumph for the No. 2 seed sets the stage for a thrilling championship clash against No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka this Saturday.
Sabalenka, a three-time Grand Slam champion, earned her shot at a fourth title after halting Iga Swiatek’s incredible 26-match winning streak at the French Open. Sabalenka triumphed in the semifinals with a score of 7-6 (1), 4-6, 6-0, denying Swiatek the chance to become the first woman to clinch four consecutive titles in Paris.
This matchup marks only the second No. 1 versus No. 2 women’s final at the French Open in three decades.
It’s also a rematch of the 2023 U.S. Open final, where Gauff captured her first Grand Slam title at just 19.
Gauff was the finalist at Roland-Garros in 2022, and while the locals in attendance at Court Philippe-Chatrier fervently supported Boisson under a closed roof amidst a drizzle, the match itself highlighted the disparity in rankings and experience.
However, Boisson’s remarkable journey saw her eliminate both No. 3 Jessica Pegula and No. 6 Mirra Andreeva, making her the first woman since 1989 to reach the semifinals in her Grand Slam debut.
Despite the enthusiastic crowd chanting Boisson’s name, Gauff showcased her skills decisively, jumping to a 4-0 lead by claiming 20 out of the first 30 points. By the end, she dominated, winning 34 out of 51 points that lasted longer than five strokes.
Sabalenka’s performance stood out, particularly in the pivotal moments of her match, as she dominated the final set with minimal mistakes.
“I mean, 6-love,” she remarked. “What can I say? It couldn’t have been better.”
“I lost my intensity a bit,” she reflected. “Just couldn’t push back.”
With no wind to disrupt their play, both competitors produced exceptional tennis. Yet, when Sabalenka unleashed her aggressive style, she forced Swiatek into a series of errors.
A striking statistic: in the decisive third set, Swiatek racked up 12 unforced errors, while Sabalenka had none.
“It feels incredible, but I know the job isn’t finished,” said Sabalenka, a 27-year-old from Belarus who took the top WTA ranking from Swiatek last October.
This marks a challenging phase for Swiatek, a 24-year-old from Poland, who hasn’t reached a final since claiming her third consecutive trophy — and fifth Grand Slam title overall — in Paris last year. She has recently dropped to No. 5 in the rankings.
Swiatek’s struggles include a semifinal loss at the 2024 Paris Olympics and a recent one-month suspension due to a positive test for a banned substance, which she attributed to contaminated medicine.
Sabalenka undeniably stands at the pinnacle of women’s tennis today.
Prior to this final, she had made six appearances in title matches this year — the most for a woman entering the French Open since Serena Williams in 2013.
Her powerful, first-strike play, typically effective on faster surfaces, has proven equally formidable on the slower clay courts of Roland-Garros. The sound of her strikes reverberated throughout the arena on Saturday.
“She didn’t hesitate,” Swiatek noted. “She simply went for it.”
Even after breaking in the first game and racing to a 4-1 lead — all while Swiatek sought support from her coach in the stands — the match was far from one-sided. Swiatek momentarily gained a 5-4 lead in the set, but in the tiebreak, Sabalenka reasserted her dominance.
The same pattern continued into the final set.
While the fans largely rallied behind Swiatek, hoping to witness a historical moment, chants of “I-ga!” echoed throughout. This might have motivated Sabalenka, who, after executing a return winner, waved her arms in response to the crowd, signaling her presence and status as the top seed.
