Coco Gauff, the talented 21-year-old American tennis player, has captured her second Grand Slam title by defeating Aryna Sabalenka in a thrilling final at the French Open. This victory marks Gauff’s remarkable journey in tennis since she made her junior Grand Slam breakthrough at Roland-Garros in 2018.
The final match was a highly anticipated clash featuring the top two players in the world—Gauff entered the match ranked No. 2, while Sabalenka held the top spot. It was the first time since 2018 that the world’s best-ranked women faced off in a Grand Slam final. Gauff is now the first American woman to win the French Open since the legendary Serena Williams achieved this feat in 2015.
The match unfolded over three intense sets. After losing the tightly contested first set 7-6, Gauff rebounded with a powerful display, dominating the second set 6-2. She then secured her victory with a 6-4 win in the final set, collapsing in joy on the clay court as Sabalenka’s last volley veered wide.
Reflecting on the match, Gauff remarked, “I don’t think either of us were playing great. But I knew as soon as I stepped on to the court, when I felt that it was windy, that it would be one of those matches. So I was just trying to give myself the best chance and fight every point.”
Gauff advanced to the final after defeating American Madison Keys in the quarterfinals and overcoming Lois Boisson, the French player who captured the crowd’s heart with her Cinderella run. Sabalenka, who ascended to the No. 1 world ranking last year after victories in Australia and New York, entered the final after defeating Iga Swiatek in the semifinals.
This year has been particularly fruitful for American women in tennis, with Gauff’s victory following Keys’ triumph at the Australian Open earlier this year. As the tournament progresses, anticipation is now building for the men’s final showdown between No. 1 Jannik Sinner and No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz.
Gauff’s achievement not only illustrates her exceptional talent and determination but also reignites hope for a new era in American women’s tennis.