PARIS — In a stunning finale, Coco Gauff clinched her first French Open title by triumphing over top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka with scores of 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4 on Saturday. This victory marks her second Grand Slam title overall.
Ranked second, Gauff showed remarkable resilience, making fewer errors throughout a match full of exhilarating momentum shifts. She has now bested Sabalenka in two Grand Slam finals, having previously come back from a set down to win their encounter at the 2023 U.S. Open.
With immense joy, Gauff held the trophy high above her head, planting kisses on it as she soaked in the moment. As the U.S. national anthem echoed, she placed her hand over her heart, becoming the first American woman to secure a title in Roland-Garros since Serena Williams in 2015.
In her emotional remarks, Gauff expressed heartfelt gratitude to her parents, acknowledging their unwavering support—from washing clothes to nurturing her belief in herself.
“You all believe in me even more than I do,” Gauff shared during her on-court address.
This match marked the first encounter between the No. 1 and No. 2 players in a Paris final since 2013 and only the second such matchup in three decades.
As Sabalenka’s backhand drifted wide on Gauff’s second match point, the 21-year-old American fell to the ground, her hands covering her face as tears flowed freely. Rising, she covered her mouth in disbelief, patting the clay in a moment of sheer elation.
After sharing a warm embrace with Sabalenka, Gauff allowed herself a joyous scream of relief before sinking to her knees, overwhelmed by the realization of her victory.
Celebrating alongside film director Spike Lee and her close-knit team—three years after a heartbreaking loss in her inaugural Grand Slam final—Gauff savored the moment.
Reflecting on her journey, she shared that the defeat in 2022 had cast her into a “dark place,” and she expressed deep appreciation for the crowd at Court Philippe Chatrier, who rallied behind her.
“Your energy lifted me, and I’m truly grateful for all the love you’ve shown,” Gauff said, her sincerity resonating with the audience.
Amid tears of her own, Sabalenka lauded Gauff’s tenacity during her post-match speech, acknowledging her deserving victory while mentioning the challenging winds that complicated their match.
“This stings a lot. Coco, congratulations—you played remarkably well in tough conditions,” Sabalenka said. “Well done on your second Grand Slam, it’s truly deserved.”
The opening set was plagued by mistakes, with both players conceding 21 break-point opportunities and racking up a staggering 48 unforced errors. Sabalenka, despite her 32 errors, managed to take the set. Overall, she recorded 70 errors compared to Gauff’s 30 throughout the match.
Frustration marked Sabalenka’s early performance as she often gestured to her team and visibly struggled with her concentration. At various points, she placed her head in her hands, questioning her own gameplay.
When it appeared Gauff would take the first set, leading 3-0 in the tiebreaker, Sabalenka regained her composure to clinch it with a well-placed volley.
Gauff sharpened her focus in the second set, winning over the crowd with a spectacular smash that leveled the match, igniting roaring applause.
Sabalenka initially surged in the deciding set, maintaining her aggressive style to win her first service game.
However, Gauff elevated her performance, winning an extraordinary rally that resonated with fans as she executed a brilliant winner at the net.
Gauff’s consistency paid off when she converted a break point, thanks to a Sabalenka double-fault, giving her a 2-1 advantage. Though Sabalenka rallied back, breaking Gauff to level the score, Gauff soon regained control.
Eventually, she broke Sabalenka’s serve again without dropping a point and held serve twice to capture the title after a gripping 2-hour, 38-minute battle.
With this win, Gauff has secured two trophies from the French Open, including last year’s women’s doubles title.
