Gauff Pulls Off the Stunner: Dethrones Top Dog Sabalenka at French Open
Young phenomenon Coco Gauff outplays the top-ranked player, securing the victory at the French Open.
If you thought Aryna Sabalenka, the world's number one in tennis, had Paris sewn up, think again. Coco Gauff, ranked a mere number two, claimed victory and took home her second Grand Slam title at the French Open, snatching the spotlight in a nail-biting final.
Gauff fought back tears on the hallowed grounds of Court Philippe Chatrier, muttering "Oh, my god!" over and over again. Her mother, Candi, was bouncing with joy on the tribune, celebrating alongside the younger woman as she made history.
In a rollercoaster of emotions, the 21-year-old overcame Sabalenka in a grueling three-set match that lasted 2 hours and 37 minutes, with 15 breaks and endless twists and turns. Gauff avenged her heartbreaking 2020 loss to Iga Swiatek, who she deposed as the clay-court queen.
Just like she did in the 2023 US Open final, Gauff turned the tables on the favored Sabalenka. Before the Paris final, Gauff confidently declared, "Back then, I fought for every single point. I knew I would win as soon as I woke up," and she proved herself true to her word. In front of a crowd of 15,000 spectators, she converted her second match point and was crowned the new champion, taking home the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen.
Sabalenka, the odds-on favorite, came up short in her pursuit of her first Paris title and her fourth major victory overall. The 27-year-old, who knocked Swiatek out of the tournament in the semifinals, was tripped up by 70 unforced errors. Despite her physical dominance, Sabalenka's mental fortitude faltered, leading to her downfall in the final.
A Humble Reminder: Grand Slam Finals Aren't Always Predictable
Gauff, resplendent in her signature thick black leather jacket, seemed a bit frosty at the outset, dropping serve to love and once more quickly afterward. Sabalenka gifted Gauff back into the game with a series of blunders, igniting the initially quiet audience.
Gauff climbed back to a tie at 4-4, and the rest of the set became a battle of winners versus errors. Twice, the world number one held a set point, but she was forced to a tiebreaker instead. The set win didn't provide much security for the favorite, as she promptly lost her serve three times in a row. Sabalenka became increasingly frustrated, expressing her displeasure through a torrent of curses and complaints. She managed to level at 3-3, but her fortunes soon took a turn for the worse - and Mother Nature wasn't the only culprit.
In the upcoming men's final on Sunday (3 pm/Eurosport), world number one Jannik Sinner (Italy) and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) will clash. It's been 38 years since the top two men and women in the world faced off in Paris, with tennis legends such as McEnroe, Lendl, Navratilova, and Evert gracing the court back then [1] [2] [3] [4].
Source: ntv.de, tsi/sid
- Sports
- Tennis
- Grand Slam Tournaments
[1] - McEnroe, Lendl, Navratilova, Evert[2] - McEnroe and Lendl[3] - Navratilova and Evert[4] - Sabalenka's upset of Swiatek[5] - Aryna Sabalenka defeats Iga Swiatek in the semifinals
- Despite Sabalenka's initial lead and status as the world's top tennis player, Gauff's victory at the French Open demonstrated that sports, especially grand slam tournaments, can sometimes defy expectations.
- As the French Open witnessed an unexpected win by Coco Gauff over Sabalenka, it serves as a reminder that tennis, being a sport, can offer a variety of outcomes in even the most prestigious tournaments like the Grand Slams, where every point matters.
