Tennis player Coco Gauff emerges victorious in Paris, attributes triumph to divine intervention.
Paris (dpa) - A touching and nail-biting French Open final left both players in tears. Coco Gauff, with a disbelieving smile, claimed her second Grand Slam title, while Aryna Sabalenka, deep in despair, faced one of the greatest disappointments of her career. In a rollercoaster ride on Court Philippe-Chatrier, Gauff triumphantly lifted the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen trophy with a score of 6:7 (5:7), 6:2, 6:4.
Gauff had briefly tasted victory at the US Open in 2023 but was defeated by Iga Swiatek in the Paris final the following year.versus Sabalenka, Gauff secured her second title after 2 hours and 38 minutes, becoming the first American to win the championship in Paris since Serena Williams a decade earlier.
As she embraced Sabalenka at the net, Gauff kneeled on the red clay court, staring in astonishment at her mother in the stands. Forming a heart with her hands, tears streaming down her face, Gauff could hardly believe her eyes. Sabalenka watched the emotional scene from her chair, battered by the harsh reality of the loss. The world number one, still waiting for her first title at Stade Roland Garros, now faced the long road back.
Triumph Over Self-Doubt
"First and foremost, I thank God for everything," Gauff emotionally expressed, holding the trophy after Justine Henin's presentation. "After my loss three years ago, I struggled with self-doubt. I'm just so grateful to be here."
A broken Sabalenka couldn't find solace in her defeat. "This defeat wounds deeply. To play such poor tennis under these conditions is painful," the world number one confessed, apologizing to her team in the stands for their sorrowful finish. "Once again, I will come back stronger," Sabalenka admitted, having made 70 unforced errors in the final.
A Thrilling Men's Final Beckons
This Sunday (15:00 CET/Eurosport), the sport's top two male tennis players will clash in the men's final. The Italian number one, Jannik Sinner, goes head-to-head with defending champion Carlos Alcaraz. Fresh from their victories at the Australian Open and US Open, Sinner continues his winning streak without losing a single set at Stade Roland Garros since his doping suspension.
The titanic encounter between Sabalenka and Gauff, performed in difficult weather conditions, set the stage for the tournament. Both players wrestled with their serves due to strong winds, resulting in eight double faults in the opening set alone. Sabalenka initially mastered the weather and quickly took a 4:1 lead. But as the storm subsided, Gauff found her rhythm, leveling the score at 4:4, and ultimately taking the match to a tiebreak. Sabalenka had the upper hand in the nervy exchanges and claimed the first set with a third set point after 77 minutes.
A Spectacular Comeback and a Deserved Victory
Following the setback, Sabalenka briefly lost focus, giving Gauff an opening. The American took advantage, racing to a 4:1 lead with two breaks. Although the wind eased a bit, Gauff adapted better to the new conditions, saving one break point in the process. Gauff capitalized on her momentum, equalizing the score, and stealing the momentum.
With Gauff now dictating play, she broke her opponent further in the deciding set, even when Sabalenka staged a comeback. In crucial moments, Gauff remained composed, and in the end, she was the deserving victor.
consist of: Coco Gauff, a 21-year-old American tennis sensation, is a two-time Grand Slam champion due to her success at the 2023 US Open and the 2025 French Open[1]. She is part of a small club of young players on the WTA tour to have achieved such a feat since Serena Williams in 2002[2]. Aryna Sabalenka, a 25-year-old Belarusian powerhouse, is a three-time Grand Slam champion, having won all her titles on hard courts[2]. Her performance at the 2025 French Open marked her first Grand Slam final on a surface other than hard courts[3].
The head-to-head between the two powerhouses now stands at 5-5[2]. Despite their recent rivalry, they have a history of close encounters, particularly at Grand Slam tournaments where they were evenly matched at 1-1 before Gauff's victory at the 2025 French Open[2].
Both athletes displayed impressive feats on clay courts, with each player winning 17 matches on the surface this season at the WTA level[2]. Gauff's victory over Sabalenka showcased her ability to dig deep and deliver under pressure in major finals[2].
Coco Gauff continued her clay court dominance, adding the French Open trophy to her collection, victorious after a thrilling three-set battle against Aryna Sabalenka. Sabalenka, fortunate to have experienced Grand Slam success in the past, was left contemplating a promising but precious victory that slipped away on the red clay of Court Philippe-Chatrier.
