Coco Gauff staged a dramatic comeback to defeat world number one Aryna Sabalenka in a gripping French Open final on Saturday, claiming her second Grand Slam title.
The 21-year-old American overcame a first-set deficit to secure a 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 6-4 victory in a match lasting two hours and 38 minutes on Court Philippe Chatrier. This marked Gauff’s second major triumph over Sabalenka, having also beaten her in the 2023 US Open final.
Gauff’s win was a powerful redemption after her emotional loss to Iga Swiatek in last year’s Roland Garros final, demonstrating remarkable resilience against a formidable opponent.
Sabalenka, who suffered her second consecutive Grand Slam final defeat following a loss to Madison Keys at the Australian Open earlier this year, struggled with 70 unforced errors amid windy conditions, echoing the pattern of her previous defeat to Gauff at Flushing Meadows.
The Belarusian star had been poised to become the only current female player to claim three of the four Grand Slam titles after her 2023 US Open win and back-to-back Australian Open titles in 2023 and 2024. Instead, Gauff now leads their head-to-head 6-5 and proved the steadier competitor in the first women’s Slam final between the world’s top two since Caroline Wozniacki beat Simona Halep in Melbourne 2018.
Marathon first set
Sabalenka took early control, racing to a 4-1 lead with powerful groundstrokes and aggressive play. However, she faltered in the sixth game, gifting Gauff a crucial break after a series of double faults and errors.
Gauff then seized momentum, winning 12 consecutive points and leveling the set at 4-4 by converting her fifth break point. Though she immediately lost the break back, Sabalenka was unable to close out the set despite multiple chances, including missed set points due to double faults.
The tense first set, the longest in a women’s French Open final since 1998 and the lengthiest women’s Grand Slam set since the 2002 Wimbledon final between the Williams sisters, culminated in a tiebreak where Sabalenka secured the set after 77 minutes.
Gauff dominates to force decider
Starting the second set assertively, Gauff surged to a 4-1 lead, breaking Sabalenka twice and cruising through the set with confidence, finishing it with a powerful smash to push the match to a decider.
In the final set, Gauff broke early as Sabalenka’s errors continued, including a fifth double fault. Although Sabalenka fought back to level at 3-3, Gauff immediately regained the lead with a love break.
The tension peaked as Gauff was denied match point by a thunderous Sabalenka return and had to fend off a break point. But on her second opportunity, Gauff sealed the victory, collapsing to the clay in joyous celebration.
AFP
