Gauff defeats top-ranked Sabalenka to win her 1st French Open title
Jerome Pugmire,
Samuel Petrequin | The Associated Press | Posted: June 7, 2025
5:04 PM | Last Updated: 15 hours ago
Becomes 1st American woman to win Roland Garros final since
Serena Williams in 2015
Image | French Open Tennis
Caption: American tennis star Coco Gauff celebrates with the
French Open trophy after defeating Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus
6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4 in the women's singles final on Saturday at
Roland Garros Stadium in Paris. (Aurelien Morissard/The
Associated Press)
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Drawing on the painful memory of her defeat three years ago in
the French Open final gave Coco Gauff just the motivation she
needed to win the clay-court major for the first time.
The 21-year-old American defeated top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka
6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4 on Saturday for her second Grand Slam title,
two years after winning the U.S. Open.
"I think [the U.S. Open victory] was more emotional but this
one was harder," said Gauff, who managed to handle the elements
and the momentum swings better than Sabalenka. "I knew it was
going to be about will power and mental [strength]."
The victory put to rest the bad memories of her 2022 French
Open final loss to Iga Swiatek when, as an 18-year-old, Gauff
felt overwhelmed even before stepping onto Court
Philippe-Chatrier.
"It was a tough time, I was doubting myself," Gauff recalled.
"I was crying before the match, and so nervous, literally
couldn't breathe and stuff."
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Gauff said that the lopsided loss rocked her confidence to such
an extent that she was left "in a dark place" and feared she
was not cut out for winning major titles.
"I thought if I can't handle this how am I going to handle it
again?" she said.
She handled it just fine on Saturday.
The second-ranked Gauff made fewer mistakes and kept her
emotions in check to get the better of Sabalenka again at major
final, having come from a set down to beat the Belarusian in
the 2023 U.S. Open final.
Gauff raised the winners' trophy aloft, then kissed it several
times. She held her hand over her heart when the U.S. national
anthem played.
"This one is heavy," Gauff said. "It feels great to lift it."
She is the first American woman to win at Roland-Garros since
Serena Williams in 2015.
It was the first No. 1 vs. No. 2 women's final in Paris since
2013, when Williams defeated Maria Sharapova, and just the
second in the last 30 years.
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After Sabalenka sent a backhand wide on Gauff's second match
point, the 21-year-old American fell onto her back, covering
her face with both hands as she started to sob, then got up and
held her hand over her mouth. She continued to sob as she
patted the clay with her left hand.
Gauff greeted Sabalenka at the net with a warm hug and thanking
the umpire, Gauff screamed out with joy and relief, then got to
her knees and crouched forward, continuing to cry as she
savoured the win.
She hugged later film director Spike Lee and celebrated with
her entourage in her box before thanking the fans.
"You guys were cheering for me so hard," she said. "I don't
know what I did to deserve so much love from the French crowd."
* American teen Coco Gauff beats Aryna Sabalenka in U.S. Open
final for 1st Grand Slam title
* Top-ranked Sabalenka ends Swiatek's 26-match French Open
win streak
One thing Gauff could not manage — yet — was a victory speech
in French.
"I completely tanked on that," she said, adding that she will
try in the future. "I don't think I could do a whole speech but
maybe a good something to say to the French crowd."
Sabalenka praised Gauff for being a "fighter" and said she
deserved the win, but added that the windy conditions made for
an error-strewn contest.
"This will hurt so much," Sabalenka said. "Coco, congrats, in
the tough conditions you were a better player than me."
Both players were sloppy in the first set, conceding 21
break-point chances and making 48 unforced errors between them,
with Sabalenka making 32 yet still winning the set. She made 70
altogether in the match, compared to 30 overall for Gauff.
Sabalenka was often frustrated, remonstrating and shouting at
herself and frequently turning around to look at her team with
an exasperated look on her face. She put her head on her hands
a couple of times, and at one point raised her shoulders as if
to say "What's going on?"
Gauff said she paid no attention, knowing full well that
Sabalenka could find her best game at any moment.
* Sinner beats Djokovic to set up French Open final against
defending champion Alcaraz
The first set looked to be heading Gauff's way when she led 3-0
in the tiebreaker, but Sabalenka steadied herself and clinched
it with a forehand volley at the net.
Gauff leveled the match with a smash at the net. But Sabalenka
stuck to her high-risk approach in the deciding set.
One superb rally in the third game drew loud cheers.
After an intense exchange of drop shots, Gauff hit a lob that
Sabalenka chased down before attempting a shot between her legs
— only for Gauff to intercept it at the net.
It was a rare highlight on a day when swirling wind troubled
both players with the roof open.
"It was tough to plant your feet, the ball was moving so much,"
Gauff said. "It was not a day for great tennis, honestly."
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