It was Gauff who rose to the occasion on Saturday. She defeated Aryna Sabalenka in the women’s final of this month’s French Open, winning her second Grand Slam title. The pair’s exhibition took place inside the storied Roland-Garros Stadium in Paris. Gauff, the No. 7 seed, fought back fantastically after losing the first set and won the match 6-7, 6-2, 6-4. At 21 years of age, Gauff is making history! With this victory, she became the first American woman to win the French Open since 2015, marking a major achievement in her young tennis career.
On this surface – the clay courts of Roland-Garros – Gauff’s victory is nothing short of remarkable. This win follows her big breakthrough when she claimed her first Grand Slam title at the 2023 U.S. Open. It further frames her inspiring journey to stardom in the arena of professional tennis. Against Sabalenka, who Gauff called an “a fighter” and a “tough opponent,” the young champion showed off all the fire and finesse that defined her title run.
Prior to the match, Gauff acknowledged the obstacles the windy conditions created, particularly with the stadium roof open. She noted, “When I stepped on the court, I was aware of the wind,” which influenced her game plan. Gauff, who had practiced before that day with the roof closed, said she liked the feel of things when it was all enclosed.
The windy atmosphere led to a less-than-perfect match, as Gauff acknowledged: “When I found out it was open, I saw how windy it was on the court, I knew it was gonna be an ugly win.” Maybe that’s the case, but if it was, she kept her attention firmly glued on figuring out how to beat Sabalenka’s power.
When asked about winning the title, Gauff sounded reflective, but satisfied and still focused, saying, She said she had “visualized and manifested” her French Open championship into existence. Looking ahead, she is excited to play for Wimbledon, which starts June 30 and ends July 13.
“I think the main piece of advice everyone’s told me is to take it in and soak it in, and then when it’s time to get back to work, get back to work,” she remarked during an appearance on “Good Morning America” following her victory.
With eyes firmly on the prize — as Gauff sets herself up for her next challenge at Wimbledon — she will not waver in sticking to the plan. The tennis world can’t wait to see how high she’ll soar as she sets out to add to her incredible accomplishments.
“I know she was probably a bit emotional after that match and it was a tough loss,” – Coco Gauff
