US Coco Gauff celebrates after winning the match over Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka during their women’s … More
Coco Gauff roared back from a set down to capture her first Roland Garros title and become the first American woman in a decade to win the French Open.
No. 2 Gauff overcame a first-set deficit to beat No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4 to become the first American woman since Serena Williams in 2015 to win the title in Paris. At 21, she is also the youngest champion since Serena in 2002.
Gauff became the seventh American woman to win Roland Garros in the Open Era. She won her second major following the 2023 U.S. Open, where she also overcame a one-set deficit to beat Sabalenka. Gauff is also the second straight American woman to win a major after Madison Keys also defeated Sabalenka in three sets to win the Australian Open.
“I didn’t think honestly that I could do it,” Gauff said on court. “But I’m gonna quote Tyler the Creator right here. He said ‘If I ever told you I had a doubt inside me, I must be lying.’ I’d like to leave that with you guys. I think I was lying to myself and I definitely could do it. Shout out to Tyler.”
Gauff had previously lost in the 2022 French Open final in straight sets to Iga Swiatek.
The winner takes home nearly $2.9 million and the runner-up $1.4 million.
“I’d like to thank my parents,” Gauff said. “You guys have done a lot for me, from washing my clothes to keeping me grounded and giving me the belief that I can do it. You guys probably believe in me more than I do myself. I really appreciate and love you guys. To my brothers at home, you’re the reason I do this. You inspire me more than you know. To all my family at home, thank you.”
“I’d like to thank my team. 3 finals, but I got the most important one. I guess that’s all that matters. You guys have been a joy to be around and you guys are individually truly great people. Pushing me and also making it fun. I know sometimes I’m not the easiest and I can be so serious. But you remind me there’s more to life than tennis. That’s what makes me play better on the court. Thank you individually, to all of you. I appreciate you guys so much.”
Former President Barack Obama was among those to shout out Gauff’s accomplishment.
In the decisive third set, Sabalenka double-faulted to give Gauff a break for 2-1.
Gauff led 3-1 and had break points for 4-1 but Sabalenka held and then broke for 3-all.
Gauff roared back and broke at love for 4-3 with a backhand crosscourt winner. Sabalenka sailed a backhand long as Gauff seized a 5-3 lead.
Serving at 5-4, 30-all, Gauff crushed a forehand crosscourt winner to earn match point. But Sabalenka hit the baseline with a forehand that staved it off.
Sabalenka had a break point at ad-out, but hit a forehand wide.
On the second match point, Sabalenka hit a backhand wide and Gauff felt to her back on the court.
Sabalenka did not give full credit to Gauff and instead blamed her own play.
“I think it was more windy,” Sabalenka said. “Also I think I was over emotional. Today I didn’t handle myself quite well mentally. Basically that’s it. I was just making unforced errors. I don’t know. I have to check the statistics. I think she won the match not because she played incredible. Just because I made all of those mistakes, if you look from the outside, from kind of easy balls.”
In a first set that featured eight service breaks, Sabalenka roared out to a 4-1, 40- lead and appeared to be cruising. She won 16 of the first 22 points.
But Gauff found her groove and won 12 straight points to tighten it up.
Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka eyes the ball as she plays against US Coco Gauff during their women’s … More
Sabalenka twice served for the set before Gauff broke her for 6-all with a backhand down the line.
Sabalenka stuck a forehand volley winner to win the first set in the tiebreak despite committing 32 unforced errors.
In the second set, Gauff raced out to a quick lead, winning 10 straight points to go up 2-0. She broke again for 5-2 and then served it, evening the match at one set apiece with a forehand overhead winner.
“I’m proud to be American,” Gauff said of the significance of her victory. “I’m proud to represent Americans that look like me.”
