Coco Gauff has made history by becoming the first American woman to win the French Open singles title since Serena Williams. In a captivating final on Court Philippe-Chatrier in Paris, Gauff delivered a remarkable comeback performance to overcome a visibly frustrated Aryna Sabalenka. This victory brings the coveted Roland Garros women`s championship back to the United States for the first time in a decade.
In the final, played under an open roof and featuring the No. 2 seed against the No. 1 seed, the 20-year-old Gauff defeated Sabalenka with a score of 6-7, 6-2, 6-4. The intense match lasted over two and a half hours and was watched by notable figures, including Manchester United icon Eric Cantona.
Upon securing the final point, Gauff, who had previously reached the Roland Garros final in 2022, collapsed onto the clay court, overwhelmed with emotion. She was heard repeating, “Oh my God, oh my God.”
This triumph marks Gauff`s second major championship win, following her success against the same opponent, Aryna Sabalenka, in a thrilling three-set final at the 2023 US Open in New York.
While tense and full of suspense, the final was not consistently the highest quality match. However, this mattered little to American supporters as Gauff lifted the trophy on the prestigious clay court of Roland Garros.
Aryna Sabalenka, recognized for her powerful game and distinctive tiger tattoo on her forearm, displayed her tenacious spirit in the first set. She fought back from a 4-1 deficit in the tiebreak to take the lead after 80 minutes of intense play. This marked the first time the opening set of the women`s singles final at the French Open was decided by a tiebreak since 1998.
Despite losing the first set, Gauff, the No. 2 seed, seized control of the match, winning 12 of the subsequent 18 games to clinch the title and the prize money of £2.1 million. The final point was won in a slightly unusual manner: Gauff`s forehand, which appeared to be going long, landed precisely on the baseline. Sabalenka managed to return it, but her following backhand sailed wide, confirming Gauff`s victory. Gauff then joyfully fell to the clay in celebration.
The win makes the Florida native the first American to win the Roland Garros singles title since Serena Williams` victory in 2015. At 20 years old, Gauff is also the youngest American champion at the tournament since Williams won it in 2002 at the same age.
The No. 1 seed, Sabalenka, frequently showed her frustration throughout the match, yelling towards her support box as points went against her. She struggled to find a way to shift the momentum back in her favor.
After the match, Gauff shared hugs, including one with film director Spike Lee, before heading to her player`s box to celebrate with her family. Accepting the trophy from Belgium`s four-time French Open winner Justine Henin, Gauff delivered a heartfelt speech. She expressed gratitude, reflecting on her previous final loss and stating her happiness at winning. She acknowledged Sabalenka as a fighter.
Gauff also thanked her team for keeping her grounded and reminding her of life outside tennis, which she said helps her performance. She paid tribute to her parents for their support and belief, calling them her inspiration. She concluded by quoting Tyler, The Creator: “If I ever told you I had a doubt inside me, I must be lying.”
A visibly dejected Sabalenka covered her face with a towel, unable to watch the match highlights replayed on the screens. During her emotional runner-up speech, she cried, admitting how much the loss hurt, especially after a difficult two weeks. She felt she had played “terrible tennis” in the final under the challenging conditions. She congratulated Gauff, acknowledging her as the better player on the day, well-deserving of the win, a fighter, and a hard worker. She apologized to her team for the final and vowed to come back stronger.
