French Open final highlights: Coco Gauff wins title in thrilling battle over Aryna Sabalenka
French Open final highlights: Coco Gauff wins title in thrilling battle over Aryna Sabalenka
After a slow start in the first set, Coco Gauff staked her claim as one of this season's queens of clay, storming back to upset top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 in a sloppy, mistake-filled French Open final on Saturday.
It's the second Grand Slam title for the 21-year-old Gauff, who adds the 2023 U.S. Open crown to her triumphs. Gauff, who had split the previous 10 matches with Sabalenka, became the first American woman to win the French Open singles title since Serena Williams in 2015, despite eight double faults and having trouble with her serve at times in the match that took two hours and 37 minutes.
Down 3-1 in the third set, the Belarus native broke Gauff to even the match at three, but was broken again in the seventh game, as the rain started to come down at Court Philippe-Chatrier with the roof remaining open, but couldn't maintain the momentum.
Sabalenka, who had 70 unforced errors and six double faults, was clearly frustrated with her play at times, yelling at her coaches in the stands after a shot out of play or into the net and nearly hitting a kid running after a ball following one of those mistakes. Despite the loss, Sabalenka will keep the No. 1 spot in the next WTA rankings.
After winning the first game of the match, Gauff was broken in the third and fifth games. Sabalenka neutralized Gauff's serve, sprinting out to a 4-1 lead and a 40-love lead in the next game. But Gauff showed resilience, breaking back after losing seven straight points on serve before saving a triple break point.
Sabalenka was broken again in the eighth game, and Gauff squared up the match, thanks to the top-seed unraveling, at one point losing 12 straight points.
In a recurring theme, Sabalenka, who had four double faults and 32 unforced errors, thanks to a nearly 30 mph gusting wind, and Gauff took turns breaking each other's serve, including Gauff getting the upper hand in a 13-minute 10th game. The hour and 17-minute set went to a tiebreak, with Gauff taking the first three points, before Sabalenka stormed back to take the set 7-6.
Here's a recap of the French Open women's final:
OPINION: Gauff doesn't dominate, and that's OK. She's still rare.
In the second set, it was Gauff who got out to a 4-1 lead, and Sabalenka continued to pile up the unenforced errors. After racking up 32 unforced errors in the first set, Sabalenka added 15 more, as Gauff settled down and blitzed the three-time major winner, taking the second set 6-2.
On to the third and deciding set, in what has been a thrilling, yet mistake-filled final.
After winning the first game of the match, Coco Gauff was broken in the third and fifth games as Aryna Sabalenka neutralized Gauff's serve, sprinting out to a 4-1 lead and a 40-love lead in the next game. But Gauff showed resilience, breaking back after losing seven straight points on serve before saving a triple break point.
Sabalenka was broken again in the eighth game and Gauff squared up the match, thanks to the top-seed unraveling, at one point losing 12 straight points. In a recurring theme, Sabalenka, who had four double faults and 32 unforced errors, thanks to a nearly 30 mph gusting wind, and Gauff took turns breaking each other's serve, including Gauff getting the upper hand in a 13-minute 10th game. The hour-and-18-minute set went to a tiebreak, with Gauff taking the first three points before Sabalenka stormed back to take the set 7-6.
The head-to-head matchup between Gauff and Sabalenka is tied 5-5 overall, 1-1 in majors and 1-1 on clay. Most recently, Sabalenka edged out Gauff 6-3, 7-6 to win in the Madrid finals on clay in Spain last month.
Their last meeting in a major came in the semifinals of the 2024 Australian Open, where Sabalenka defeated Gauff 7-6, 6-4 on a hard court. Before that, Gauff defeated Sabalenka 2-6, 6-3 in the 2023 U.S. Open final – also on hard court – to claim the first Grand Slam singles title of her career.
What time does French Open women's final start?
The French Open women's final between American Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus is set for Saturday at 9 a.m. ET (3 p.m. in Paris).
What TV channel is showing French Open women's final?
The French Open women's final between Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka will be broadcast live on TNT.
Watch the French Open women's final on Sling
Coco Gauff has won one Grand Slam singles title: the 2023 US Open women's singles championship. She has reached the French Open final twice: 2022 and this year. Her best result in the Australian Open is the semifinals in 2024. She has reached the fourth round of Wimbledon three times (2019, 2021, 2024).
Aryna Sabalenka has won three Grand Slam women's singles titles: the 2023 and 2024 Australian Open and the 2024 US Open. She reached the final of the French time for the first time in her career this year and the Wimbledon semifinals in 2021 and 2023.
Tournament's No. 2 seed
1st round: Defeated Olivia Gadecki 6-2, 6-2
Defeated Olivia Gadecki 6-2, 6-2 2nd round: Defeated Tereza Valentova 6-2, 6-4
Defeated Tereza Valentova 6-2, 6-4 3rd round: Defeated Marie Bouzkova 6-1, 7-6 (7-3)
Defeated Marie Bouzkova 6-1, 7-6 (7-3) 4th round: Defeated (20) Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-0, 7-5
Defeated (20) Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-0, 7-5 Quarterfinals: Defeated (7) Madison Keys 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 6-1
Defeated (7) Madison Keys 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 6-1 Semifinals: Defeated Lois Boisson 6-1, 6-2
Tournament's No. 1 seed
1st round: Defeated Kamilla Rakhimova 6-1, 6-0
Defeated Kamilla Rakhimova 6-1, 6-0 2nd round: Defeated Jil Teichmann 6-3, 6-1
Defeated Jil Teichmann 6-3, 6-1 3rd round: Defeated Olga Danilovic 6-2, 6-3
Defeated Olga Danilovic 6-2, 6-3 4th round: Defeated (16) Amanda Anisimova 7-5, 6-3
Defeated (16) Amanda Anisimova 7-5, 6-3 Quarterfinals: Defeated (8) Zheng Qinwen 7-6 (7-3), 6-3
Defeated (8) Zheng Qinwen 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 Semifinals: Defeated (5) Iga Swiatek 7-6 (7-1), 4-6, 6-0
Odds to win the 2025 French Open women's singles final, via BetMGM (as of Thursday, June 5)
Sabalenka -190
Gauff +160
Is there a live stream of the French Open women's final?
The French Open women's final between Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka can be streamed live on Max and Sling TV.
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Coco Gauff wins French Open: Michelle and Barack Obama, LeBron James, Billie Jean King and Carlos Alcaraz congratulate 21-year-old star
On Saturday, Coco Gauff etched her name into tennis history as the winner of the 2025 French Open. The 21-year-old tennis phenom defeated Aryna Sabalenka in three sets to win her first title at Roland-Garros and her second Grand Slam. After Gauff's big win, the young American earned the praises of a number of big names, who applauded Gauff for her tenacity and talent. Advertisement Former First Lady Michelle Obama congratulated Gauff in a post on X, alongside a video of Gauff's championship point. "Your determination, strength, and grace throughout the French Open has inspired us all — and showed us what's possible. Proud of you!" Obama wrote. President Barack Obama chimed in soon after. "Congratulation to @CocoGauff for an amazing championship at the French Open — the first American singles champion at @RolandGarros in a decade," the former president wrote in a post on X. "You make us all proud." LeBron James seconded Barack Obama's message, congratulating Gauff, who was a Team USA flagbearer alongside James at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Billie Jean King, the founder of the WTA, saluted Gauff on social media soon after her victory, congratulating her on her accomplishments. "Outstanding!" King added in the post. Gauff was also praised by another young tennis star, Carlos Alcaraz. "Many congrats @CocoGauff!!!" he wrote on X. Alcaraz will play in his own French Open final on Sunday against Jannik Sinner. Another tennis champ, Martina Navratilova, also congratulated Gauff on the victory. Advertisement "A great comeback and fight!" Navratilova, who won two French Opens of her own, wrote on social media. Notably, after Gauff won the match, the first person she greeted was director Spike Lee, whom she hugged before she'd even hugged her own parents. Lee, a noted sports fan, was one of many familiar faces in the crowd at Roland-Garros on Saturday. Gauff also earned some praise from actor Matthew McConaughey, who congratulated Gauff for her "2nd major and 1st on clay." New Balance, one of Gauff's sponsors, also honored Gauff in her victory with a cheeky congratulatory post. The company played off of the checklist that Gauff had jokingly posted after forgetting her racket ahead of the first round. Advertisement "Played to perfection," New Balance wrote, along with a checked box next to "Win Paris." And even the volunteer ball kids showed Gauff some love after the match. In a South Florida crossover, the Miami Dolphins and Miami Heat took the time to honor Gauff for her win. Gauff, who was born in Atlanta, grew up in Delray Beach, Florida, and has strong South Florida roots. Perhaps most unexpectedly, the Merriam-Webster dictionary also praised Gauff, alongside a video of the tennis star explaining the definition of the word "love." "Congratulations to Coco Gauff for winning her first French Open title! We really LOVE this," the account wrote.
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