Sabalenka's three-straight slam final accomplishment

New York Times

a day ago

Follow live French Open semifinal reaction after Coco Gauff booked her place in Saturday's final Getty Images
It's been a minute since a player has reached three consecutive Grand Slam finals in women's singles. That's what Aryna Sabalenka did today with her three-set victory over Iga Świątek.
The last woman to accomplish this feat was Serena Williams back in 2016. Of the three finals, the 23-time slam champion only won one of them; beating Angelique Kerber at Wimbledon after losing to her in Australia and fellow European Garbiñe Muguruza in Paris.
Talk about elite company. Getty Images
Aryna Sabalenka was very pleased with her three-set victory over defending champion Iga Świątek earlier on, but stressed that there is still one more big hurdle to jump over...
💬 'Honestly it feels incredible but the job is not done yet. I'm thrilled with the performance today with this win and with the atmosphere in the stadium. It makes us feel amazing.
'(Świątek) is the toughest opponent, especially on clay at Roland Garros. I'm proud that I was able to get this win. It was tough and a streaky match. I'm so proud right now.'
Aryna Sabalenka has never won the title here at Roland Garros so would lift the French Open title for the first time with a win on Sunday. It would be her fourth Grand Slam title, to go with two Australian Opens and one U.S. Open.
Sabalenka would move into a tie with Naomi Osaka on four slams and one behind the woman she beat in today's semifinal, Iga Świątek. Getty Images
This will be the second time that Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka have met in a Grand Slam final after they fought it out in the 2023 U.S. Open final.
The Belsrusian got off to a strong start that day, winning the first set 6-2. It appeared her power was too much for the young American.
But Gauff eased her way back into the match, thanks to her blazing court coverage and defense. Sabalenka started to beat herself. And it was Gauff who emerged victorious, winning in three sets (2-6, 6-3, 6-2) to capture her maiden slam title.
Their last meeting at one of the majors came in the semifinals of last year's Australian Open where Sabalenka won in straight sets (7-6, 6-4).
You can expect another close battle on Saturday in Paris.
Coco Gauff was asked about the prospect of facing a home favorite player on Court Philippe-Chatrier today.
💬 'It's always the plan to try to start strong, but I knew it was important today. Loïs is obviously an incredible player. In this tournament, she has definitely proven she's one of the best players in the world, especially on clay. I'm sure we will have many more battles in the future, hopefully here.
'I know you guys wanted her to win, but I wanted to win as well. But congratulations to her for an incredible tournament. Today just happened to be my day.' Getty Images
Saturday's Roland Garros final will be the 11th meeting between Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka. And it is a hotly contested rivalry with both players winning five of the previous matches each.
They most recently met in the Madrid Open final which the world No. 1 defeated the American 6-3, 7-6 (3). The No. 2 seed will be desperate to get her revenge on Court Phillippe-Chatrier on Saturday.
Coco Gauff is heading back to the French Open final.
She booked her spot in a No. 2 vs. No. 1 showdown against Aryna Sabalenka with a commanding win over Loïs Boisson, the French wild card who had become the toast of the tournament. Gauff, who so often has crowds behind her, entered enemy territory this evening, taking on Boisson and 15,000 French fans ready to blow the roof off Court Philippe-Chatrier.
She beat both, badly. Gauff matched Boisson shot for shot in nearly every rally, either waiting for the error or a ball she could jump on. When it was over after 70 minutes, she had a 6-1, 6-2 triumph over a woman who had spent the past fortnight scrambling the brains of some of the best players in the world.
After looking like a superstar for 10 days, Boisson, with Gauff's help, reverted to a player who only this week broke into the top 100.
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Coco Gauff ends Lois Boisson's French Open run to set up final against Aryna Sabalenka Getty Images
Aces:
Double faults:
First serve %: Gauff: 63 percent
Boisson: 66 percent
First serve points won: Gauff: 62 percent
Boisson: 38 percent
Second serve points won: Gauff: 80 percent
Boisson: 43 percent
Break points: Gauff: 6-of-7
Boisson: 1-of-5
Total points won:
Unforced errors: Getty Images
It's been a solid clay court season for Coco Gauff. She reached the quarterfinal at the Stuttgart Open before losing to Jasmine Paolini.
Then, the American reached the final in both Madrid and Rome, before falling to Aryna Sabalenka and then Paolini again.
Gauff is still searching for her first clay court title of the season — could that come on Saturday at Roland Garros? Getty Images
With today's win, Coco Gauff advances to her third slam final of her career. She's 1-1 in her previous two slam finals.
The American lost to Iga Świątek here in straight sets (6-1, 6-3) in 2022 but won the 2023 U.S. Open final in three sets against Aryna Sabalenka (2-6, 6-3, 6-2).
Will Gauff go 2-0 against the world No. 1 or will Belarusian exact her revenge? Getty Images
Gauff 6-1, 6-2 Boisson
In an hour and nine minutes, Coco Gauff has booked her ticket to the Roland Garros finals. She trounces the French wild card Lois Boisson in straight sets 6-1, 6-2.
For Gauff, it is her third slam final and second at Roland Garros.
For Boisson, it ends a fairytale run. She makes the semifinal in her first ever slam as a wild card.
Gauff will take on world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka for the Roland Garros title on Saturday. Getty Images
Gauff 6-1, 5-2* Boisson
This match is about to be over soon. Coco Gauff has won eight points in a row to move one game away from the Roland Garros final.
The fatigue has set in for Lois Boisson. She's not hitting her shots with pace and is committing a plethora of unforced errors.
Gauff 6-1, *4-2 Boisson
So much for the late match spark for Lois Boisson. Coco Gauff breaks the Frenchwoman at love, utilizing her angles on her groundstrokes to perfection.
Boisson looks to have hit a wall physically. Not moving as well and going for bigger shots that she isn't used to hitting.
The American two games away from the Roland Garros final. Getty Images
She needed an injection of energy from somewhere so that break could be huge for Lois Boisson.
Can it kick start a resurgence?
It has kept her in this set and given the crowd something to cheer. Getty Images
Gauff 6-1, 3-2* Boisson
Here we go! Lois Boisson isn't going away quietly.
The wild card gets her first break of Coco Gauff's serve of the match. And what a time to do it, right? Amid the second set with the match hanging in the balance.
Back on serve in the second set. Getty Images
This is a rough match for Lois Boisson who is desperately trying to find a way to better Coco Gauff but is struggling.
She looks well and truly worn down by the experience of this fortnight and has turned to her box for inspiration.
Getting dragged into rallies with Gauff is what she wants to avoid but has felt somewhat unavoidable. Getty Images
Gauff 6-1, *3-1 Boisson
The unforced errors continue to pile up for Lois Boisson. The home favorite sails a forehand long to give Coco Gauff the first break of the second set.
The American can sense the finish line now — she is three games away from the Roland Garros final. Getty Images
Gauff 6-1, 2-1* Boisson
That's a huge missed opportunity for Lois Boisson. She had a break point to finally take a lead in this match.
But on break point, Boisson dumped a forehand return in the net. She then made two forehand unforced errors on the following two points to give Coco Gauff the service hold.
Tough for the wild card who doesn't look as fresh physically as her opponent.
What a dynamite point from Coco Gauff. She showcases her tremendous court coverage, running around the court, retrieving balls that not many players can get.
She eventually wins the point on an overhead smash winner. All Lois Boisson — who had stopped momentarily thinking one of Gauff's rally balls had dropped out — can do is bend over to take a breather.
15-0 Coco.
Although, it should have been 0-15 with HawkEye showing that the ball had, in fact, gone long — Boisson would have been better served getting the umpire out of his chair to check the mark.