By Femi Fabunmi
American tennis star, Coco Gauff has claimed her first French Open singles title on Saturday, putting up an impressive comeback to defeat world number one Aryna Sabalenka in a dramatic and Interesting final at Roland Garros.
The 21-year-old, who was seeded second in the tournament, overcame early struggles and tricky weather conditions to emerge victorious with a 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 6-4 scoreline.
The Roland Garros victory marks Gauff’s second Grand Slam singles crown, following her breakthrough win at the 2023 US Open also against Sabalenka.
“I honestly didn’t think I could do it,” Gauff said during the emotional trophy presentation, tears of joy streaming down her face as she dropped to the clay in celebration.
The match began with Sabalenka, 27, taking control, breaking Gauff’s serve twice to go up 4-1 in the opening set. But Gauff, known for her grit and fighting spirit, clawed her way back, eventually forcing a tiebreak.
Although Sabalenka edged the first set, momentum soon shifted as the American capitalized on a flurry of errors from her opponent.
Blustery winds wreaked havoc on both players’ serves, leading to frequent breaks and long rallies. But it was Gauff who adapted better, keeping her composure while Sabalenka’s frustration boiled over. The Belarusian committed an astonishing 70 unforced errors in total an obstacle she could not overcome.
In the deciding set, Gauff settled early, broke Sabalenka’s serve, and held firm through several tense games.
She saved a critical break point late in the match and finally sealed the win on her second championship point, prompting wild celebrations from her family in the stands, including her parents Candi and Corey.
With this historic victory, Gauff becomes the first American woman to lift the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen since Serena Williams in 2015, signaling a new era for U.S. women’s tennis and fulfilling the promise she has shown since bursting onto the scene as a teenager.
Her performance throughout the clay-court season including strong showings in Madrid and Rome—set the stage for this Parisian triumph.
And on the biggest stage, under the weight of expectation, Gauff delivered with heart, power, and poise.
