Young tennis sensation Coco Gauff outperforms top-ranked player, clinching the French Open title.
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Paris Thrones Dethroned: Gauff Ousts Sabalenka for French Open Crown
Twitter Instagram LinkedIn E-Mail Print Copy Link Coco Gauff, not Aryna Sabalenka, is the one grinning ear-to-ear in Paris: Gauff defies a turbulent first set and bag herself a second Grand Slam title at the French Open.
With tears streaming down her cheeks, Coco Gauff hugged her mother Candi tight, while the crowd roared: the American's dream of French Open glory had finally come true after a thrilling rollercoaster ride.
In a nerve-wracking spectacle, the 21-year-old swept aside world No. 1 Sabalenka from Belarus 6:7 (5:7), 6:2, 6:4 in the decisive showdown at Roland Garros - the riveting match unfolded over 2 hours and 37 minutes with 15 breaks and countless nail-biting twists. But in the end, Gauff seized the clay-court crown three years on from her gripping final defeat to Iga Swiatek.
Much like their 2023 US Open confrontation, Gauff once more stole the limelight from the presumed victor, Sabalenka. "Three years back, I fought relentlessly for every point. I knew I would win when I rose from the ashes," she declared before the Paris final. And she did it all over again. In the presence of 15,000 spectators at Court Philippe Chatrier, she clinched victory with her second match point and was later presented with the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen.
Despite her monumental effort, Sabalenka surprisingly missed her maiden Paris triumph and her fourth major title. The 27-year-old had usurped Swiatek, the long-reigning "Queen of Roland Garros," in the semifinals; Swiatek had claimed the title four times in total and three times consecutively in the previous year. This time, however, she was forced to concede defeat to Sabalenka's physical dominance. Yet, it wasn't merely brute force that undid her in the final, it was Sabalenka's mental state that faltered.
Roland Garros Finals: Breaking Records since 1984?
Gauff strolled onto the court draped in her usual thick black leather jacket, seemingly unbothered. However, the lack of warmth quickly disappeared as she dropped her serve love and again soon after. Yet, Sabalenka generously handed the initiative back to Gauff, committing a series of errors. The crowd's energy noticeably surged.
Gauff tied the score at 4:4 with a four-game winning streak. From thereon, the only possible outcomes in the rallies were Sabalenka's winner, or Sabalenka's error. The top-ranked player had two set points but was forced into a tiebreak nonetheless. She narrowly escaped a daunting deficit in the tiebreak.
The set victory didn't bolster Sabalenka's security, as she surrendered her serve three times in quick succession after two hours of grueling tennis. Sabalenka's resolve began to wobble, as she seethed, swore, and cursed. Despite managing to level the score at 3:3, her composure shattered - and it wasn't just the brisk wind that played a part.
On Sunday at 3 PM (Eurosport and live ticker available at ntv.de), the world No. 1 Jannik Sinner (Italy) and the reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) will battle it out. Could this mark the first time since 1984 that the top two players in both men's and women's finals meet in Paris? Back then, the legendary stars included McEnroe, Lendl, Navratilova, and Evert.
Source: ntv.de, tsi/sid
- Tennis
- Grand Slam Tournaments
- FootballThe search results indicate a unique occurrence in the French Open finals of 1984, in which the top two players in both men's and women's finals faced off. In the men's final, Ivan Lendl defeated John McEnroe, while Martina Navratilova triumphed over Chris Evert in the women's final. The men's final saw a significant comeback by Lendl, who saved a match point.
- In the 1984 French Open finals, the top players in both men's and women's finals faced off, just like it might happen again in the 2023 finals with Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz in the men's division.
- Coco Gauff secured her second Grand Slam title in the French Open, defeating top-ranked tennis player Aryna Sabalenka in a thrilling three-set match, reminiscent of their 2023 US Open encounter, where Gauff also defied expectations to claim victory.
