The turn of the runner-up

New York Times

4 days ago

Follow reaction to Coco Gauff's French Open victory after the 21-year-old American's thrilling three-set battle with the World No. 1 Getty Images The Athletic
Coco Gauff fought back from a set down to beat Aryna Sabalenka 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4 in a rollercoaster French Open final.
It is the second Grand Slam singles triumph of Gauff's career and her maiden Roland Garros title, adding to the US Open title she won in 2023, also by beating Sabalenka.
'I was going through a lot of things when I lost here three years ago,' Gauff said after her victory, referencing her straight sets defeat to Iga Swiatek in the 2022 final.
'I'm just glad to be back here. I was going through a lot of dark thoughts. Three finals ... I guess I got the most important win. That's all that matters.'
Sabalenka recovered from a 4-1 deficit in an exciting first set tiebreak only to make a huge number of mistakes in the second and third as Gauff seized control.
'This hurts so much,' the World No. 1 said afterwards. 'Congratulations to Coco, she was a better player than me.' Get involved: [e-mail]
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French Open final: Coco Gauff beats Aryna Sabalenka to win second Grand Slam title Connections: Sports Edition Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Getty Images
Aryna Sabalenka, heartbroken, embraces Henin.
She holds her silver plate and poses, or rather just stands.
Her turn to speak. She can't initially, throwing her head back and blinking away tears, shaking her head.
Sabalenka's emotions taking over.
...is Belgian Justine Henin.
The 43-year-old won seven majors, including four here at Roland Garros, plus an Olympic gold medal.
She hands the umpire Mariiana Veljović a silver tray for officiating the final. She did a great job, too. Getty Images
Drained. Nothing more to give. But victorious. Getty Images
Relief and disbelief in equal measure from Coco Gauff, who was seemingly struggling to come to terms with her triumph.
The ballboys and ballgirls file out onto court.
Decent summer job, that. Getty Images
Not sure this what either player wants. Gauff watches it quietly.
Aryna Sabalenka, understandably, looks like she'd rather be anywhere but there, putting her towel over her head.
The No.2 seed prevailed over the No. 1 seed in a chaotic, tense and enthralling match, ultimately decided by Sabalenka's first-strike tennis, Gauff's adaptability to the conditions and the most unsatisfying statistic in tennis.
It is Gauff's first French Open title and her second Grand Slam singles title.
It brings her closer to Sabalenka, the runaway world No. 1 in the rankings, and gives Gauff her first major title away from the hard courts of her home major at the U.S. Open.
Below, The Athletic 's writers, Charlie Eccleshare and Matt Futterman, analyze the final and what it means for tennis.
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French Open final: Coco Gauff beats Aryna Sabalenka to win second Grand Slam title Getty Images
FINAL: Gauff 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4 Sabalenka
A high five from Spike Lee, Coco Gauff climbs into her box and hugs her parents, then her coaches.
A beaming smile on her face.
The American is victorious! Getty Images
She's done it! Coco Gauff collapses onto the clay!
'Oh my God,' she says. 'Oh my God'.
On her knees, clay staining her forehand, she signs a love heart to her mum, who is jumping up and down for joy. Getty Images
Gauff 6-7(5), 6-2, 5-4* Sabalenka
An OK serve from Gauff, catches Sabalenka off guard, net. Super from Sabalenka, though, rushing the net daringly and volleying away adeptly and adroitly at the net.
A booming return, Sabalenka going for her shots, 15-30. Coco's mum Candi clapping her daughter on. Big serve, 30-all. Two more points...
One more now! Gauff mishits a forehand, a little lucky, draws Sabalenka into the net and Gauff slams it away for a winner!
Championship point... saved! Incredible bravery from Sabalenka, who thrashes desperately and her return hits the baseline! Deuce, then Sabalenka advantage as more merciless hitting slides beyond Gauff's grasp.
Advantage Aryna. She goes all-in, and it's wide. Deuce. Candi Gauff with eyes closed, muttering a little prayer heavenward.
Those prayers answered? Sabalenka slings it wearily into the net. A second championship point...
Gauff 6-7(5), 6-2, *5-4 Sabalenka
This is, obviously, a must-hold for top seed Aryna Sabalenka. Backhand volley at the net for 15-0. Sabalenka, sweat beading her hands, drops her racket after missing a first serve and wipes it dry.
Pinned back deep, Sabalenka with a horribly miscued backhand, miles wide. 66 unforced errors in this match, more than double Gauff's (30). 15-all.
Whoosh, a forehand with the force of a thousand suns, 30-15. Grip it and rip it, Gauff wide, 40-15. Gauff purses her lips ever so slightly. Brilliant return from Gauff, Sabalenka long, 40-30 and a slim chink of light for Gauff in this game.
Sabalenka unhappy with the bounce as Gauff's ball kicks up on her, and she pulls it wide. Big serve, then big smash, Gauff wide, advantage.
Wonderful point, hitting the corners with aplomb. Has Sabalenka found her hitting range in the nick of time? Getty Images
Gauff 6-7(5), 6-2, 5-3* Sabalenka
Double fault, gasps from the near-15,000-strong crowd on Court Philippe-Chatrier, then an ace. How's that for contrasts?
15-all, Sabalenka into the net, brilliant retrieval low to her right, Gauff smacks it cross-court and Sabalenka gets a racket on it but the ball skids downwards and into the net! The power did for her there.
A wonderful arcing forehand into the corner, unplayable, winner. 40-15. Sabalenka long. Gauff edging closer. Getty Images
Gauff 6-7(5), 6-2, *4-3 Sabalenka
Sabalenka narrowly out, point replayed, but Sabalenka with not one but two really poor backhands into the net.
Nowhere near going over, either. 0-30 down and more complaints to her box. A double fault, 0-40 down, three break points to Coco Gauff.
Sabalenka yelling in disbelief at her box. The difference between her floor and ceiling is stark.
Fine shot from Gauff, the first point she's really won rather than Sabalenka losing it in this game, and it's a break to love. Gauff is two games from the championship. Getty Images
Gauff 6-7(5), 6-2, 3-3* Sabalenka
Nicely done. Under the floodlights in the dying natural light of this summer's day in Paris, Sabalenka plays an excellent point, forcing Gauff into the corner and putting the backhand volley away.
Double fault, 0-30, but Sabalenka, off-balance, makes two mistakes. I think she's struggling with her movement due to fatigue, not getting her feet into the right position to strike as powerfully as she is able.
Wow! Really unlucky net cord for Gauff, who shovels it wide. On such moments of fortune can matches, and finals, turn.
Gauff errs again and that's a break. How Coco will rue that intervention on the net. Getty Images
Gauff 6-7(5), 6-2, *3-2 Sabalenka
Advantage after a big serve. Sabalenka pauses with a scowl after a ballboy scrambles to retrieve a loose ball.
Gauff's return is long and that is vital for the world No. 1. Getty Images
The combination of what's at stake and the tour's best defender have been a lethal one-two punch to the Sabalenka jaw today.
All these errors do not happen in isolation.
Gauff 6-7(5), 6-2, *3-1 Sabalenka
Gauff goes 0-15 up, world-class returning, but Sabalenka does what so few players can and overwhelms her with pace. Stand and deliver, she tries to put her whole body into a backhand but can't get it over the net.
15-30. This game cannot slip through her fingers if she wants to lift the trophy. Gauff returns long, 30-all, fascinatingly poised.
Sabalenka gets away with a couple of shots in the rally, hitting the baseline twice, comes to the net but can only volley it back awkwardly and Gauff hits it clean as a whistle down the line for a fine winner.
30-40. Break point. A few deep breaths from the top seed. And a gargantuan serve saves the break point! Just kissed the line on the way through. Deuce.
Uh oh. Sabalenka with poor shot selection, tries a drop shot, wrong execution too, Gauff latches onto it and elicits the error. Another break point, another saved with a scorching winner down the line. Deuce again.