Coco Gauff ‘proud to represent Americans that look like me' in French Open final triumph
Coco Gauff hopes her triumph at the French Open provides a glimmer of positivity for her supporters during a difficult political period in the United States as she clinched her first French Open title on Saturday.
Gauff, the second seed, demonstrated her mental fortitude by recovering from a set down to defeat the world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4 and win her second grand slam title in Paris.
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'Obviously there's a lot going on in our country right now with things … like, everything, yeah. I'm sure you guys know,' said Gauff during her press conference. 'But just to be able to be a representation of that and a representation of, I guess, people that look like me in America who maybe don't feel as supported during this time period … just being that reflection of hope and light for those people.'
Related: Coco Gauff claims first French Open title after fightback floors Aryna Sabalenka
'I remember after the election and everything, it kind of felt like a down period a little bit, and my mom told me during Riyadh: 'Just try to win the tournament just to give something for people to smile for.' So that's what I was thinking about today when holding that. And then seeing the flags in the crowd means a lot.
'Some people may feel some type of way about being patriotic and things like that, but I'm definitely patriotic and proud to be American, and I'm proud to represent the Americans that look like me and people who kind of support the things that I support.'
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Gauff contested her first grand slam final aged 18 at the 2022 French Open, losing to Iga Swiatek, before defeating Sabalenka at the 2023 US Open to win her first grand slam title. She said that she struggled with anxiety and doubt in 2022, a complete contrast to the confidence she felt before this match.
'I just remembered 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,' said Gauff. 'So when the anthem got played, I vividly remember watching her pretty emotional when the Polish anthem was played. I was, like, 'Wow, this is such a cool moment'. So when the anthem got played today, I kind of had those reflections.
'It was a tough time. I was doubting myself, wondering if I would ever be able to overcome it, especially my mentality going into that match. I was crying before the match and so nervous, and literally couldn't breathe and stuff. I was, like: 'If I can't handle this, how am I going to handle it again?' Then obviously the US Open happened, and now I just felt really ready today, and I was, like: 'I'm just going to leave it all out there, and regardless of what happens, I can leave proud.''
After also losing the Australian Open final this year in three sets to Madison Keys, Sabalenka is now 3-3 in grand slam finals. She did not hide her rage. Asked how Gauff made things difficult for her, Sabalenka credited her opponent's framed shots and lambasted the windy conditions.
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'Honestly sometimes it felt like she was hitting the ball from the frame,' she said. 'Somehow magically the ball lands in the court, and you are kind of on the back foot. Yeah, it's just, you know, like … it felt like a joke, honestly, like somebody from above was just staying there laughing, like: 'Let's see if you can handle this.''
Sabalenka also claimed that Swiatek, who she defeated in the semi-finals, would have beaten Gauff on Saturday: 'I think Iga … would go out today and she would get the win. Yeah, it just hurts. Honestly hurts. I've been playing really well, and then in the last match, I go out there and perform like I did. That hurt,' she said.
Speaking less than an hour after leaving the court, Sabalenka said she already knows plans for the next few days as she tries to get over this tough defeat: 'I already have a flight booked to Mykonos and alcohol, sugar,' she said. 'I just need a couple of days to completely forget about this crazy world and this crazy … if I could swear, I would swear right now, but this crazy thing that happened today.
'And I couldn't today. I think everyone understands. I'm just trying to be very polite right now, but there is no other word that could describe what just happened today on the court. But yeah, tequila, gummy bears, and I don't know, swimming, being a tourist for a couple of days.'
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New York Times
9 minutes ago
- New York Times
Matt Chapman's walk-off homer sends Giants to a fourth consecutive one-run victory
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Posey, of course, had everything to do with those three World Series championships. And he appreciates the power of nostalgia, in its proper dosage, to the mind of a major league player. So after barely a month on the job, Posey expressed a resolve to redecorate the clubhouse — beginning with the office space adjacent to the front door that had been converted to a hub for the analytics staff. 'It'll change,' Posey said in November. 'I want to be clear: They're a valuable piece to the entire picture. But trying to figure out where they can be available for the coaches and the players where maybe it's not right when you walk in the door? That's going to be a good thing.' The office shuffling was not meant to be punitive. It was meant to reestablish a primacy of purpose: competing to win, no matter how it was arrived at or what it looked like or how a computer modeled it. 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'His go-to is that curveball,' said Chapman, whose drive landed in the third row of the left field bleachers. 'I had a feeling that's what he was going to lean on in that situation.' Chapman circled the bases to a cacophony of cheers, then arrived home to a water-splashing, jersey-ripping pile of bodies. It was his first walk-off hit as a Giant and his third career walk-off home run. He'd hit a pair of them for Melvin with the Oakland A's over a six-week span in 2019. 'I think Chappy's going to hit a home run any time,' Webb said. 'I thought Flo was going to do it, too. But I guess it was Chapman's day.' Chapman was asked for his thoughts about the Giants' winning streak coming on the heels of a mini roster overhaul. Did those moves stir a sense of urgency in the clubhouse? 'It's funny, you know?' Chapman said. 'How things can change super quickly.' (Top Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Associated Press
26 minutes ago
- Associated Press
With record crowd watching, Sky get blown out by Fever in first WNBA game at United Center
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CBS News
27 minutes ago
- CBS News
Red Sox beat Yankees, 10-7 as Story has 5 RBIs, Crochet strikes out Judge three times
Trevor Story had five RBIs, Garrett Crochet struck out Aaron Judge three times and the Boston Red Sox beat the New York Yankees 10-7 on Saturday night to even their weekend series at one game apiece. Story hit a three-run double for 5-3 lead in a five-run third against Ryan Yarbrough (3-1) and, after the Yankees closed to 10-7, added a two-run single in the ninth off Ian Hamilton. In his first career start at Yankee Stadium, Crochet (6-4) allowed a season-high five runs and six hits in six innings, striking out nine and walking one. He has 32 strikeouts in his last three starts. Judge went 0 for 4, dropping his major league-leading average to .390. AL East-leading New York lost for the fourth time in 13 games, and hitting coach James Rowson was ejected in the fourth for arguing balls and strikes. Rookie Kristian Campbell hit RBI singles in consecutive at-bats to help the Red Sox win for the fifth time in 14 games since Alex Bregman strained his right quadriceps. Abraham Toro had an RBI single and Romy González hit a two-run homer for the Red Sox, who went 7 for 18 with runners in scoring position. Austin Wells hit a three-run homer and an RBI single for the Yankees, who fell behind 8-3. J LeMahieu hit a two-run single in the eighth off Justin Wilson, and Aroldis Chapman retired three straight batters for his 10th save in 11 chances, falling over first base as he stepped on the bag for the final out. Anthony Volpe did not start because of a bruised elbow, pinch ran in the eighth and moved to shortstop, Yarbrough allowed eight runs and nine hits in four innings as his ERA climbed from 2.83 to 4.17. Key Moments Before Story doubled. González hit a ground ball to shortstop Oswald Peraza, who attempted to get the out at third instead of throwing to first. Key Stats Judge struck out three times for the fifth time this season. Up Next Boston RHP Hunter Dobbins (2-1, 4.06 ERA) starts Sunday night against New York LHP Carlos Rodón (8-3, 2.49), who is 7-0 with a 1.27 ERA in his last nine starts.
