Gauff Stuns Sabalenka to Win French Open
Coco Gauff Triumphs in Epic Comeback to Win First French Open Title
Coco Gauff claimed her first French Open singles crown—and second Grand Slam title—after staging a remarkable comeback to defeat world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in a dramatic and emotionally charged final at Roland Garros.
The 21-year-old American, seeded second, overcame a shaky start and a double-break deficit to win 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 6-4 against Sabalenka in a clash between the WTA Tour’s top two players. Battling through swirling winds and mounting pressure, Gauff found her rhythm and capitalized on her opponent’s unforced errors to seal the title.
“Honestly, I didn’t think I could do it,” Gauff admitted during the trophy ceremony, visibly moved after securing the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen. “I’m just so happy. It’s been a journey.”
Gauff’s victory adds to her 2023 US Open title, which she also won by beating Sabalenka. Her parents, Candi and Corey, were seen celebrating with uncontainable joy as their daughter dropped to the clay in tears of triumph after Sabalenka’s final forehand sailed wide on match point.
A Redemptive Return to Paris
Gauff’s win marked a full-circle moment at Roland Garros. In 2022, she reached the final as a teenager but was outplayed by Iga Swiatek, leaving the court in tears.
Three years later, she returned as a more mature and battle-hardened champion, fueled by lessons learned and inner resilience.
Reflecting on that earlier loss, Gauff said, “I was going through a lot of dark thoughts then. To come back here and win means the world. This is for my younger self.”
Her clay-court form in 2024 had been strong—finalist appearances in Madrid and Rome built confidence, and she arrived in Paris as a legitimate title contender. Her grit and focus in the final validated that belief.
Sabalenka’s Painful Miss
Despite her dominant run to the final, Aryna Sabalenka once again fell short of capturing a French Open title.
The Belarusian, 27, has proven her prowess on hard courts with Grand Slam wins in Australia and the US, but continues to chase a breakthrough on clay.
Sabalenka surged early, breaking Gauff twice to take a commanding lead in the opening set and nearly going up 5-1. But her momentum crumbled as unforced errors piled up—70 in total—and Gauff turned the tide.
After narrowly claiming the first set in a tiebreak, Sabalenka struggled to regain control as Gauff’s consistency and tactical awareness took over. In a heartfelt speech, Sabalenka acknowledged her disappointment:
“This hurts so much. Congratulations to Coco—she played better than me today. I’m sorry to my team for playing a terrible final.”
Despite the loss, Sabalenka made history as the first woman since Serena Williams in 2017 to reach 10 consecutive Grand Slam quarter-finals—an achievement underscoring her consistency and elite status.
Gauff Eyes More History
With two major titles under her belt and still only 21 years old, Coco Gauff continues to establish herself as one of the sport’s brightest stars.
Her mental resilience, maturity, and powerful game have set her apart in an increasingly competitive women’s field.
As she lifted the trophy in Paris, Gauff sent a powerful message—not just of her on-court abilities, but of her emotional evolution.
From heartbreak to heroics, Coco Gauff’s French Open journey has become one of redemption, belief, and soaring promise.
Gauff Stuns Sabalenka to Win French Open