Gauff clinches French Open title after epic win over Sabalenka
8 June 2025 11:37
PARIS (AFP)Coco Gauff secured her French Open title on Saturday with a victory over Aryna Sabalenka, and said a maiden French Open trophy was "one I really wanted".The 21-year-old secured a hard-fought 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 6-4 win over the world number one in difficult, windy conditions at Roland Garros.'I felt like this is one I really wanted, because I do think this was one of the tournaments that when I was younger that I felt I had the best shot of winning,' the American said."So I just felt like if I went through my career and didn't get at least one of these, I would feel regrets and stuff. Today, playing Aryna, I was just, 'I just gotta go for it and try my best to get through the match.'"It was a long-awaited success for Gauff, who was in tears after losing the 2022 French Open final to Iga Swiatek as a teenager. She had also reached at least the quarter-finals in Paris in each of the previous four years.'That ceremony when Iga won, I just remembered trying to take it all in and pay attention to every detail and just feel like I wanted that experience for myself,' added the world number two, who also came back from a set down to beat Sabalenka in the 2023 US Open final.Gauff is the first woman to beat a world number one in a Grand Slam final from a set down since Venus Williams against Lindsay Davenport at Wimbledon in 2005.
It was Gauff's first title since lifting the WTA Finals trophy last year, after suffering final defeats in both the Madrid and Italian Opens to Sabalenka and Jasmine Paolini respectively.
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US tennis star Gauff says French Open title 'one I really wanted'
Coco Gauff said a maiden French Open trophy was "one I really wanted" after securing the title with victory over Aryna Sabalenka on Saturday. The 21-year-old secured a hard-fought 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 6-4 win over the world number one in difficult, windy conditions at Roland Garros. "I felt like this is one I really wanted, because I do think this was one of the tournaments that when I was younger that I felt I had the best shot of winning," said American star Gauff. "So I just felt like if I went through my career and didn't get at least one of these, I would feel regrets and stuff. "Today, playing Aryna, I was just, 'I just gotta go for it and try my best to get through the match'." Winner Coco Gauff and ball boys and girls pose with the trophy after the final match. AP It was a long-awaited success for Gauff, who was in tears after losing the 2022 French Open final to Iga Swiatek as a teenager and had reached at least the quarter-finals in Paris in each of the previous four years. "That ceremony when Iga won, I just remembered trying to take it all in and pay attention to every detail and just feel like I wanted that experience for myself," added the world number two, who also came back from a set down to beat Sabalenka in the 2023 US Open final. "When the anthem got played, I vividly remember watching her, pretty emotional when the Polish anthem got played. I was, like, 'Wow, this is such a cool moment'. "So when the (USA) anthem got played today, I kind of had those reflections." 'Not a day for great tennis' Gauff is the first woman to beat a world number one in a Grand Slam final from a set down since Venus Williams against Lindsay Davenport at Wimbledon in 2005. It was her first title since lifting the WTA Finals trophy last year, after suffering final defeats in both the Madrid and Italian Opens to Sabalenka and Jasmine Paolini respectively. Coco Gauff, top, reacts after winning the final match of the French Tennis Open against Aryna Sabalenka, front, at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris. AP Sabalenka called the conditions "terrible," as the wind swirled after the roof was opened shortly before the start of the match. "It was not a day for great tennis, honestly," admitted Gauff. "I don't know too many people that could play great tennis today, but it's part of the sport and part of playing outside." American film director and diehard New York Knicks fan Spike Lee was in attendance and celebrated with Gauff after her victory. Coco Gauff celebrates after winning the final match of the French Tennis Open against Aryna Sabalenka. AP "I wanted to tell him, I had to do it, that even though the Knicks didn't win, I gave him something to cheer for," she said, in reference to the Knicks' defeat by the Indiana Pacers in the NBA's Eastern Conference Finals last weekend. Both players struggled on serve, especially in a 77-minute first set featuring eight breaks. Sabalenka said she thought Swiatek would have beaten Gauff if she had not ended the Pole's title defence in the semi-finals, but the actual champion shot down those thoughts. "I don't agree with that. I'm sitting here," said Gauff, who thrashed Swiatek 6-1, 6-1 in the Madrid semi-finals last month, taking a glance at the trophy next to her. "Last time I played — no shade to Iga or anything, but I played her and I won in straight sets. "I don't think that's a fair thing to say, because anything can really happen." Agence France-Presse
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Sabalenka rues 'worst final' as French Open hopes blown off course
Aryna Sabalenka called her loss to Coco Gauff in the French Open "the worst final" she has ever played after an error-strewn display on Saturday dashed her hopes of a fourth Grand Slam title. World number one Sabalenka won the opening set on a blustery day in Paris but watched the trophy slip from her grasp as she made a tournament-worst 70 unforced errors in tricky conditions. The 27-year-old suffered her second Grand Slam final defeat in a row after losing in Australia, with Gauff triumphing 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 6-4 to capture her second major. "It was really honestly the worst tennis I've played in the last I don't know how many months," said Sabalenka. "Conditions were terrible, and she simply was better in these conditions than me. I think it was the worst final I ever played." Gauff's first Grand Slam title also came at the expense of Sabalenka -- at the 2023 US Open, with the American fighting back from a set down on that occasion as well. Sabalenka raced into a 4-1 lead and eventually won a tie-break to pocket the first set Saturday, but Gauff adjusted better to the gusty winds on a gloomy afternoon. "I think she won the match not because she played incredible; just because I made all of those mistakes," said Sabalenka. "I think I was overemotional. I think today I didn't really handle myself quite well mentally, I would say." "Sometimes that happens, you know? You just wake up, and you don't feel your best and another player goes for whatever and it works, and for you nothing is working," she added. "I guess today wasn't the day." Sabalenka was attempting to become the only current women's player with titles at three of the four Grand Slam events. But after seeing her bid for a third straight Australian Open crown ended by Madison Keys in January, Sabalenka slid to another painful loss on the clay. "I definitely have to, you know, step back and learn something, because I cannot keep doing the same mistake," she said. "It's the worst match I've played in the last couple of months. It's just a joke. I cannot do that anymore in the finals. "I wouldn't care if I would play like that in, I don't know, fourth round or quarter-finals, but in the final of a Grand Slam... it's a bit not right." Sabalenka was full of confidence after knocking out Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen and then ending Iga Swiatek's 26-match winning streak at Roland Garros. But she couldn't deliver when it counted most, as Gauff avenged her loss to Sabalenka in last month's Madrid final. "It just hurts. Honestly hurts. I've been playing really well, and then in the last match, go out there and perform like I did, that hurts." Sabalenka revealed her plans for a quick break in Greece, to help her switch off and reset before preparing for the transition to grass and Wimbledon. "I already have a flight booked to Mykonos. I just need couple of days to completely forget about this crazy world... and this crazy thing that happened today," she said. Sabalenka missed Wimbledon last year due to a shoulder injury but has reached the semifinals in her last two appearances. She did not compete in 2022 either after the tournament banned Russian and Belarusian players because of the invasion of Ukraine.
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Coco Gauff stunned by her own achievement after French Open win
Coco Gauff was dumbstruck after beating world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the French Open final on Saturday, admitting she did not think she had what it takes to stop the Belarusian heavy hitter on Court Philippe Chatrier. The American 21-year-old battled from a set down to beat the top seed 6-7(5) 6-2 6-4 in just over two and half hours and lift her first French Open crown and her second Grand Slam title after the 2023 US Open. "I didn't think honestly I could do it," the American world number two, who claimed her second Grand Slam title, said between tears. "Three finals... I guess I got the most important win - that's all that matters." She had lost the clay court finals in Madrid and Rome before her win in Paris. "I was going through a lot of things when I lost here three years ago," Gauff, who was runner-up to Iga Swiatek in 2022, said. "I'm just glad to be back here. The 21-year-old Gauff, who benefited from her opponent's 70 unforced errors, including six double faults, paid tribute to Sabalenka before posing for pictures with the ball kids. "I would like to thank my parents. You guys have done a lot for me, from washing my clothes to keeping me grounded and giving me the belief that I can do it," she said. "You guys probably believe in me more than I do myself. I really appreciate and love you guys." Taking inspiration from American musician Tyler, the Creator, she said: "If I ever told you I have doubt inside me, I would be lying." She has won both her majors after coming from a set down after her comeback win against Sabalenka at the US Open two years ago. Gauff is also the first American player to lift the trophy since Serena Williams in 2015. "I would like to thank you guys, the crowd helped me today," she told the 15,000 crowd who supported her throughout. "You guys were cheering for me so hard and I don't know what I did to deserve such support from the French crowd," Gauff added, before dropping the lid of the Suzanne Lenglen Cup. Gauff continued a spectacular season for American women at the Grand Slams by winning the French Open. She is the winner in Paris from the United States since her decorated compatriot Serena in 2002. Victory, which follows colleague Madison Keys' Australian Open triumph, helped the erase memories of Gauff's crushing loss to Iga Swiatek in 2022 and confirmed her pedigree on the biggest stage after a breakthrough triumph at the 2023 US Open.
