French Open 2025: How Olympian Gabby Thomas' video and a mirror inspired Coco Gauff to victory
Coco Gauff after winning the French Open final over Aryna Sabalenka (Images via X/@RolandGarros)
The Times of India at Roland Garros
: Coco Gauff scripted a gritty comeback win over the world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in the French Open final. The American won hearts and applause as she neutralized challenging conditions with her athleticism and monk-like calm, but did the 21-year-old take a page off pop culture and actually manifest her win on Saturday evening?
After the two-hour 38-minute final Gauff pulled out a sheet of paper, carrying the words, I will win French Open 2025.
The handwritten sentence was repeated eight times on the sheet.
The American was on TikTok on the eve of the final when an old interview of Gabrielle Thomas, the Olympic 200m champion, cropped up on her page. The American sprinter had written multiple times that she was going to get gold in the Paris Olympics.
'I was like, why is this video of her being interviewed from the Olympics coming up on my page (now)?' Gauff said, adding, 'Gabby says she wrote it either 50 or 500 times, I can't remember.
She wrote, 'I will be the Olympic champion.' I was like, 'I have this hotel (pad) and I'm going to write it as many times as I can fit on the (page), and I'm done.''
Bombay Sport Exchange Ep. 6: Harish Thawani on cricket's TV market and the watershed moments
'After that I looked myself in the mirror and told myself that I had the belief. Then obviously it happened,' she said of her win. 'I didn't know if it was going to work or not, but it did. It's a great mindset that she (Gabrielle Thomas) had. I was on the mirror writing, trying to hurry up and write because I was ready to go to sleep.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Concentrated Siberian Ginseng Extract 2oz
Superior Ginseng
Undo
But did I win because of that, I don't know, but I'm going to say, I did.'
Gauff, who took charge of the final, where she faced Sabalenka, the heaviest ball striker in the game, displaying a maturity beyond her years. The American has practice, having done much the same thing with her career.
Poll
Do you think Coco Gauff outclassed Aryna Sabalenka in the final?
Yes, the World No 1 was far from her best
No, she got lucky
A couple of years ago she asked her father Corey, who was managing and coaching her, to step back. She wanted the driver's seat. It's not a common thing in sport, where parents, who give up livelihoods for their children's careers, often refuse to let go when the athlete might benefit in a professional environment.
'(When) I asked my dad to take a step back, it ended up being a great thing for both of us,' Gauff said, adding that she asked her mother Candi, a former athlete, to travel with her. 'I needed her to be on the road more, (travelling) with a team full of men, I needed some estrogen, some female energy here. Women just notice more things.'
Arshdeep Singh: The Poet Who Bowls Thunder | Stories from His Father & Coach
'When you're younger you don't know how to distinguish your feelings, what you want to do and when's the right time to say it and things like that,' Gauff explained, 'As I got older, I felt I learned a lot about myself.
I know myself now, maybe not 100 percent, but I know a little bit more about the things I like and don't like. That my parents support those decisions mean a lot.'
Coco Gauff's affirmation that she wrote down ahead of the final vs Aryna Sabalenka (Image via X)
The world No.2, who now has two Major titles from three finals, said her parents trust her.
'I'm a dynamite personality so they know if I really (say) something, I mean it,' she said of her decision to take charge of her tennis. 'I know myself and know what I need, maybe not in the moment, but after trial and error you start to learn things about yourself. I'm glad that I don't have pressure (from my) parents. They genuinely want to see me happy and obviously the on-court stuff is great, but their biggest goal for me in life is just to live a happy quality of life.
'
1 -
She's the first to win aGrand Slam final afterdropping the first set to theNo. 1 player since VenusWilliams two decades agoat Wimbledon, and the firstat Roland Garros since SteffiGraf in 1999.
21 -
The youngest to win major women's titles on multiple surfaces since Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon 2004 and the US Open 2006.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
India go down 0-1 to Hong Kong in crucial 2027 Asian Cup Qualifier match
NEW DELHI: The suffered a heartbreaking 0-1 defeat to hosts Hong Kong after conceding a stoppage-time penalty in a crucial 2027 AFC Asian Cup Qualifier on Tuesday. The decisive goal came from Stefan Pereira in the 94th minute after a costly foul by India goalkeeper Vishal Kaith. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The referee pointed to the spot after Kaith charged off his line and collided with Michael Udebuluzor while attempting to punch the ball clear. Pereira made no mistake from the spot, calmly slotting the ball to Kaith's right. The Indian custodian was also shown a yellow card for the late challenge. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Earlier in the evening, head coach Manolo Marquez opted to keep veteran striker and talisman Sunil Chhetri out of the starting XI. Despite the raucous support for the home side at the newly built Kai Tak Stadium, India looked promising in the early exchanges and created a handful of chances in the first half, although Hong Kong dominated possession. However, as has often been the case of late, India's lack of clinical finishing once again proved costly. Their best opportunity of the half came in the 35th minute when Ashique Kuruniyan, set up beautifully by Liston Colaco's run and cross from the left, fired wide from close range. Colaco, who had earlier received treatment for an injury, also tried his luck with a powerful long-range effort, but it went straight into the hands of the Hong Kong goalkeeper. Hong Kong grew into the game as the first half progressed and nearly broke the deadlock through a set-piece, only to be denied by a goal-line clearance from Ashish Rai after Kaith was beaten. Both sides had their moments in a tightly contested opening 45 minutes, but neither could capitalize. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Kuruniyan, effective down the flank throughout the match, had another opportunity early in the second half but again couldn't convert. In an attempt to inject urgency into the Indian attack, Marquez introduced Sunil Chhetri and Naorem Singh in place of Kuruniyan and Brandon Fernandes. MLC: Venky Harinarayan on growing cricket in the USA, AI-driven teams and the Olympic boost India continued to press for a goal and came close in the 81st minute when Lallianzuala Chhangte delivered a precise cutback to Chhetri inside the box, but the veteran striker failed to make solid contact. The result is a major blow to India's qualification hopes, especially after their goalless draw against Bangladesh at home in March in their opening qualifier. With only a few matches remaining, the Blue Tigers will now need to regroup quickly to keep their Asian Cup dreams alive.
Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Govinda se jealousy thi, when he was a top hero people tried to sabotage his career,' says Sunita Ahuja: 'Usko film release karne...'
Govinda was considered one of the top stars of the 90s and even today, most people believe that there is nobody like him. Be it his comic timing, dancing or expressions, Govinda is considered iconic by his fans. However, his wife Sunita Ahuja is not happy for the fact that he's not doing many movies. He stopped working and his career took a downfall. In a recent interview, Sunita has revealed that when he was at the top of his game, many people tried to ruin his career. She said in an interview with Instant Bollywood, "Govinda se jealousy bohot logon ko hai. When he was a top hero, people tried to sabotage his career. Usko film release karne platform nahi mila, ache director nahi mila. Toh woh bhaag gaya uss cheez se. (Many people were jealous of him when he was at the top of his game. People tried to sabotage his career. He didn't get a platform to release his movies, he stopped getting good directors. So, he just ran away from the industry to get away from all these things)." However, he's trying to make his own movies now, revealed Sunita. "He's trying to make his own movies now. But I don't want him to make movies of the 90s. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like US Homeowners: Stairs Becoming a Problem? Here's a Solution Gaining Popularity Fast! Clear Living Undo I want him to make movies that go with the current generation. I tell him to watch content on OTT to know what's working today and how times have changed, how film-making has evolved. He's not listening to me though. He wants to be around the same people who misguide him and be stuck in the old times. " Sunita also added that the only fights she has with Govinda is due to the fact that he's not working and doing enough movies. She said, "I tell him, tu legend actor hai, tere jaisa actor aaj tak hua nahi hai. You're wasting your life because of the four people you are sitting with. they are not teaching you good things. Sab faltu baat sikhaa rahe hai. Acche logon ke saath baitho. People around him won't tell him that. Unko paisa milta hai Govinda se. Toh uski chamchagiri karte hai (I tell him, he's a legendary actor. There is nobody like him and he's wasting his life because the four people around him are misguiding him. They get paid from him, so they just say sweet things to him)." When asked about her favourite movies of Govinda, she said, "Meri favourite film hai Kill Dil, 'Zulm Ki Hukumat', Swarg bhi acchi lagi. I liked him in negative roles."
Time of India
29 minutes ago
- Time of India
Kiyan Anthony let his true feelings about being Carmelo Anthony's son known in a candid conversation with the NBA Hall of Famer
Kiyan Anthony and Carmelo Anthony. Image via: David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images In a heartfelt episode of The Instagram Podcast on YouTube, NBA legend Carmelo Anthony sat down for a rare and personal conversation with his son, Kiyan Anthony. The Syracuse-bound high school star opened up about life on and off the court, offering an unfiltered perspective on what it truly feels like to carry the last name "Anthony. " The discussion, while light-hearted at times, ventured into their personal territory, offering a glimpse into the pressures, expectations, and ambitions that come with being the son of a basketball icon. Kiyan Anthony reacted to the pressure of being Carmelo Anthony's son Kiyan Anthony's response to his father's pointed question about living under the label of 'Melo's son' was as grounded as it was mature. When Carmelo asked, 'A lot of people say you, you know, we have this kind of tag against us, and you especially as Melo's son. How does that make you feel?' — Kiyan candidly responded, sharing his true feelings about the weight of the name he carries. Carmelo and Kiyan | Close Friends Only with Instagram "I don't really got a problem with it to be honest," Kiyan responded. "I feel like anybody would want to be Melo's son. So at the end of the day, I'm my own person. I got to do my own things um on and off the court. So what the people don't see is just on the court just the hard work, the training and all of that. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo And then off the court I feel like we have similar personalities but at the same time we two different people so can't label me as just Melo's son. " While Kiyan is proud of his father and blessed to be Melo's son, he also has the innate desire for individuality. It is a duality that many children of famous athletes often wrestle with, quite similar to Bronny James' inherent tag of being LeBron James' son. Kiyan is aware of the privilege, but he's also focused on carving out his own path, following his father's legacy but creating his own basketball name for himself. The exchange took a thoughtful turn when Kiyan flipped the script and asked his father, 'When you was my age, what was you trying to prove to everybody?' Carmelo's answer was telling of the generational drive. 'That's a good question,' Melo acknowledged quickly. 'When I was your age, I think I was trying to prove that I belong. I wanted to prove to myself, too, like I can do it… I had to prove myself, right?" he added. Also Read: LiAngelo Ball's girlfriend Rashida Nicole fires back after reporter's 'no kisses for bae' comments at BET red carpet Kiyan has recently graduated from Long Island Lutheran High School and is heading to his father's alma mater, Syracuse.
