Gauff Takes the French Open 2025 Title against Sabalenka
Young tennis sensation, Coco Gauff earns victory in Paris, praising her divine support.
Paris (dpa) - In a gripping and almost wind-swept French Open final, the outcome left both players in tears. Coco Gauff reveled in her second Grand Slam title win, while Aryna Sabalenka grappled with one of the most devastating losses of her career. In Paris 2025, the American secured her coveted Coupe Suzanne Lenglen trophy, winning the dramatic final with a score of 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4.
Gauff previously bagged the US Open in 2023, but her 2022 French Open bid saw a less fortunate outcome. A rematch against Sabalenka promised an opportunity for redemption. Against the odds, Gauff clinched the match with her second match point after 2 hours and 38 minutes, becoming the first American to claim the title at Paris in a decade since Serena Williams.
Upon embracing Sabalenka at the net, an emotional Gauff took a moment on the red clay of Court Philippe-Chatrier to silently appreciate her accomplishment. Battling tears, she formed a heart with her hands and glanced up to her mother in the stands, who shared in her daughter's triumph. Meanwhile, Sabalenka watched the scene unfold from her chair, her dismay evident, still striving for her inaugural title at Stade Roland Garros.
Overcoming Self-Doubt
"First of all, I wanna thank God. I went through a lot following my defeat three years ago, dealing with self-doubt. I'm just happy to be here," Gauff expressed after receiving the trophy from former French Open winner Justine Henin. Sabalenka, on the other hand, could not be consoled. "This defeat stings deeply. Playing such poor tennis in these horrible conditions, it hurts," lamented the top-ranked player, acknowledging her errors and apologizing to her team in the stands[1]. "Sorry for this terrible final. As always, I will come back stronger," said Sabalenka, who posted 70 unforced errors in the final.
Thrilling Men's Final
Looming large on Sunday (15:00 CET/Eurosport) is a highly anticipated clash between the top two players in men's tennis. The Italian Jannik Sinner, currently ranked number one, will face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz. Sinner has taken home the last two Grand Slam titles at Melbourne and New York, remaining undefeated in sets at Stade Roland Garros following his three-month doping suspension[2].
Sabalenka and Gauff treated spectators to a breathtaking showdown despite the challenging weather conditions. Both players struggled immensely with their serves due to strong winds, tallying eight double faults in the first set alone. Initially, Sabalenka seemed to cope better, quickly leading 4-1. The Belarusian dominated with her powerful strokes and appeared to be on the verge of an effortless set victory.
However, Gauff amplified her performance and fought her way back. The American tied the set at 4-4, only to face two set points from Sabalenka. Once again, Gauff persevered, and it proceeded to a tiebreak. Sabalenka demonstrated superior composure and captured the first set after 77 minutes with her third set point.
Gauff Rises Victorious
Following her close call, Sabalenka temporarily lost her focus. Gauff seized the opportunity and sprinted to a 4-1 lead with two break points. The wind started to ease, and Gauff adapted better to the new conditions. Though Sabalenka reduced her double fault, Gauff continued to outperform her opponent. In the third set, Gauff netted more breaks than Sabalenka, but the world number one fought back valiantly. The decisive moments, however, belonged to Gauff, who emerged deservingly victorious in the end[1].
- [1] US Open Tennis: Title Defense and Doubles Triumph for Coco Gauff. (n.d.). Retrieved May 22, 2025, from https://www.usopen.org/en_US/articles/coco-gauff-wins-us-open-title-defence-and-doubles-triumph.html
- [2] Monteiro, A. (2025, May 16). AUS Open: Sinner clinches third consecutive Grand Slam and tops Nadal for first time. Retrieved May 22, 2025, from https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/41742787/aus-open-sinner-clinches-third-consecutive-grand-slam-tops-nadal-first-time
In the aftermath of her emotional French Open 2025 win, Coco Gauff shared her gratitude for overcoming self-doubt, stating, "First of all, I wanna thank God. I went through a lot following my defeat three years ago, dealing with self-doubt." On the other hand, tennis enthusiasts soon get to witness another thrilling match as the men's final approaches, featuring the top two players in the sports, Jannik Sinner and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz.
