Coco Gauff Fights Back to Claim French Open Crown Over Sabalenka
Coco Gauff showcased remarkable resilience as she battled back from a set down to defeat world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 6-4 in a thrilling French Open final on Saturday. This victory marks Gauff’s second Grand Slam title, adding to her triumph at the 2023 US Open, where she also overcame Sabalenka.
The match, held on Court Philippe Chatrier, lasted two hours and 38 minutes, with Gauff more than making amends for her emotional loss to Iga Swiatek in the 2022 Roland Garros final. “I was going through a lot of things when I lost in this final three years ago. A lot of dark thoughts, so it just means a lot to be here,” Gauff reflected. “I didn’t think honestly that I could do it.”
The 21-year-old American expressed her desire to win the French Open, stating, “This was one of the tournaments that, when I was younger, I felt I had the best shot of winning. If I went through my career and didn’t get at least one of these, I would feel regrets.”
For Sabalenka, it was a disappointing second consecutive Grand Slam final loss, having previously fallen to Madison Keys at the Australian Open. The Belarusian struggled with 70 unforced errors, a notable statistic given the windy conditions. “Honestly, it hurts so much, especially after such a tough two weeks when I played such great tennis in these terrible conditions,” she commented.
Sabalenka, who aimed to become the only current female player to win three out of four Grand Slam titles, saw her hopes dashed as Gauff improved her head-to-head record against her to 6-5. This final was the first women’s Grand Slam match between the world’s top two players since 2018.
The match began with Sabalenka quickly asserting herself, taking a 4-1 lead in the first set. However, Gauff fought back, ultimately forcing a tie-break after a tense battle. The first set lasted 77 minutes, making it the longest set in a women’s Grand Slam final since the Williams sisters faced off at Wimbledon in 2002.
In the second set, Gauff turned the momentum, breaking Sabalenka twice to lead 4-1. She closed out the set with confidence, sending the match to a deciding third set.
Gauff struck first in the final set, breaking Sabalenka early. Despite a brief resurgence from Sabalenka, Gauff held her nerve, saving a break point and ultimately sealing the match on her second match point.
As Gauff fell to the clay in celebration, she solidified her place among the elite, joining an exclusive club of players with multiple Grand Slam titles before turning 22.
