Coco Gauff handles bad memories and
top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka to earn first French Open title
[June 09, 2025]
By JEROME PUGMIRE and SAMUEL PETREQUIN
PARIS (AP) — Drawing on the painful memory of her defeat three years
ago in the French Open final gave Coco Gauff just the motivation she
needed to win the clay-court major for the first time.
The 21-year-old American defeated top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka 6-7
(5), 6-2, 6-4 on Saturday for her second Grand Slam title, two years
after winning the U.S. Open.
“I think (the U.S. Open victory) was more emotional but this one was
harder,” said Gauff, who managed to handle the elements and the
momentum swings better than Sabalenka. "I knew it was going to be
about will power and mental (strength)."
The victory put to rest the bad memories of her 2022 French Open
final loss to Iga Swiatek when, as an 18-year-old, Gauff felt
overwhelmed even before stepping onto Court Philippe-Chatrier.
“It was a tough time, I was doubting myself," Gauff recalled. “I was
crying before the match, and so nervous, literally couldn't breathe
and stuff."
Gauff said that the lopsided loss rocked her confidence to such an
extent that she was left “in a dark place” and feared she was not
cut out for winning major titles.
“I thought if I can't handle this how am I going to handle it
again?” she said.
She handled it just fine on Saturday.
The second-ranked Gauff made fewer mistakes and kept her emotions in
check to get the better of Sabalenka again at major final, having
come from a set down to beat the Belarusian in the 2023 U.S. Open
final.
Gauff raised the winners' trophy aloft, then kissed it several
times. She held her hand over her heart when the U.S. national
anthem played.
“This one is heavy," Gauff said. “It feels great to lift it.”
She is the first American woman to win at Roland-Garros since Serena
Williams in 2015.
It was the first No. 1 vs. No. 2 final in Paris since 2013, when
Williams defeated Maria Sharapova, and just the second in the last
30 years.
After Sabalenka sent a backhand wide on Gauff's second match point,
the 21-year-old American fell onto her back, covering her face with
both hands as she started to sob, then got up and held her hand over
her mouth. She continued to sob as she patted the clay with her left
hand.
Gauff greeted Sabalenka at the net with a warm hug and thanking the
umpire, Gauff screamed out with joy and relief, then got to her
knees and crouched forward, continuing to cry as she savored the
win.
She hugged later film director Spike Lee and celebrated with her
entourage in her box before thanking the fans.
“You guys were cheering for me so hard," she said. "I don’t know
what I did to deserve so much love from the French crowd.”
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Coco Gauff of the U.S. kisses the trophy after winning the final
match of the French Tennis Open against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus
at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Saturday, June 7, 2025. (AP
Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
One thing Gauff could not manage — yet — was a
victory speech in French.
“I completely tanked on that," she said, adding that she will try in
the future. “I don’t think I could do a whole speech but maybe a
good something to say to the French crowd.”
Sabalenka praised Gauff for being a “fighter” and said she deserved
the win, but added that the windy conditions made for an
error-strewn contest.
“This will hurt so much," Sabalenka said. "Coco, congrats, in the
tough conditions you were a better player than me.”
Both players were sloppy in the first set, conceding 21 break-point
chances and making 48 unforced errors between them, with Sabalenka
making 32 yet still winning the set. She made 70 altogether in the
match, compared to 30 overall for Gauff.
Sabalenka was often frustrated, remonstrating and shouting at
herself and frequently turning around to look at her team with an
exasperated look on her face. She put her head on her hands a couple
of times, and at one point raised her shoulders as if to say “What’s
going on?”
Gauff said she paid no attention, knowing full well that Sabalenka
could find her best game at any moment.
The first set looked to be heading Gauff’s way when she led 3-0 in
the tiebreaker, but Sabalenka steadied herself and clinched it with
a forehand volley at the net.
Gauff leveled the match with a smash at the net. But Sabalenka stuck
to her high-risk approach in the deciding set.
One superb rally in the third game drew loud cheers.
After an intense exchange of drop shots, Gauff hit a lob that
Sabalenka chased down before attempting a shot between her legs —
only for Gauff to intercept it at the net.
It was a rare highlight on a day when swirling wind troubled both
players with the roof open.
“It was tough to plant your feet, the ball was moving so much,"
Gauff said. “It was not a day for great tennis, honestly."
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