Coco Gauff Claims French Open Title Over Aryna Sabalenka: Emotional Rollercoaster
Young prodigy Gauff ousts top-ranked opponent and clinches French Open title
In a whirlwind display of emotions, Coco Gauff emerged victorious against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the French Open final, clinching her second Grand Slam trophy at Roland Garros.
With tears streaming down her face on Court Philippe Chatrier, Gauff, 21, expressed sheer disbelief, repeatedly whispering "Oh, my god!" as her mother, Candi, bounded with delight on the tribune. This triumph marked the realization of Gauff's dream of conquering the French Open, following a tumultuous journey.
The rollercoaster encounter between these two formidable players lasted a gripping 2 hours and 37 minutes, with 15 breaks and countless plot twists. In the end, Gauff triumphed 6:7 (5:7), 6:2, 6:4, regaining the clay-court throne three years after her crushing loss to Iga Swiatek in 2020.
Much like her US Open final against Sabalenka in 2023, Gauff flipped the script against the odds-on favorite, determined to secure every last point. Reflecting on her mindset before the match, Gauff asserted, "Back then, I fought for every single point. I knew I would win as soon as I woke up." Remarkably, she repeated that performance.
Facing 15,000 spectators on Court Philippe Chatrier, Gauff seized her second match point and received the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen as the rightful champion. Sabalenka, the 27-year-old Belarusian, missed out on the first Paris victory and her fourth major title due to a plethora of errors - a staggering 70 unforced errors.
Sabalenka had previously dethroned Swiatek, the "Queen of Roland Garros," in the semifinals, with Swiatek owning the title four times in total and three times consecutively in 2022. However, Sabalenka's physical prowess wasn't enough to carry her through the final, as her mental fortitude failed her.
historical Tennis Finals since 1984
Gauff entered the court adorned in her signature thick black leather jacket, seeming somewhat reserved. She lost her second serve game and a subsequent one shortly after, allowing Sabalenka to seize the initiative initially. A lively audience emerged when Gauff fought back, as Sabalenka faltered with a series of misplaced shots.
By winning four games consecutively, Gauff tied the game at 4:4. From then on, the key to the rallies was either a Sabalenka winner or Sabalenka error. Twice, the world No. 1 found herself on the brink of victory, but she still needed a tiebreak to seal the set.
The set win provided little comfort to the favorite, as she dropped her serve three times in succession amidst approximately two hours of play. Sabalenka's nerves began to fracture, as she vented frustration, cursed, and struggled to maintain focus. She managed to level the score at 3:3, but then faltered decisively, and it wasn't merely the wind that troubled her.
In the men's final on Sunday (3 pm/Eurosport and live ticker at ntv.de), world No. 1 Jannik Sinner (Italy) and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) will face each other, marking the first time in Paris since 1984 that the top two players in the world will contest both men's and women's singles. The legendary 1984 competitors included John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl, Martina Navratilova, and Chris Evert.
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[1] "2025 French Open: Carlos Alcaraz vs. Jannik Sinner Sets Up an Exciting Clash of Generations in Tennis." ESPN, ESPN Inc, www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/37525230/2025-french-open-carlos-alcaraz-jannik-sinner-set-exciting-clash-generations-tennis
[2] "Clay Court Tennis: Understanding the Unique Aspects of the Surface and Its Impact on the Game." Tennis World, Tennis World Magazine, tennisworld.org/play/techniques/clay-court-tennis-unique-aspects-impact-game/1370/.
During the French Open finals, Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka showcased their tennis prowess in a thrilling Grand Slam tournament, mirroring the upcoming men's final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. Remarkably, Gauff and Sabalenka engaged in a rollercoaster encounter, reminiscent of their past encounters, with the former claiming victory and her second Grand Slam trophy.
