Coco Gauff was dumbstruck after beating world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the French Open final yesterday, admitting she did not think she had what it takes to stop the Belarusian heavy hitter on court Philippe Chatrier.
“I didn’t think honestly I could do it,” the 21-year-old American world No 2, who claimed her second Grand Slam title, said between tears.
Gauff, who benefited from Sabalenka’s 70 unforced errors, paid tribute to her opponent before posing for pictures with the ball kids. “Every time we play, it is a tough match for me; so, congratulations. You remind me there is more to life than tennis. I would like to thank you guys, the crowd helped me today,” she told the 15,000 crowd who supported her throughout.
“You guys were cheering for me so hard, and I don’t know what I did to deserve such support from the French crowd,” Gauff added, before dropping the lid of the Suzanne Lenglen Cup.
Gauff battled from a set down to stun top seed Sabalenka 6-7(5) 6-2 6-4 to claim her maiden Roland Garros title and second Grand Slam crown.
Gauff became the first American woman to capture the singles title since Serena Williams in 2015, and the youngest from the US to achieve the feat since her decorated compatriot in 2002.
Paris was guaranteed a new champion, but the first clash between the top two women in the world rankings in a major final since the 2018 Australian Open initially failed to live up to its billing on a blustery Court Philippe Chatrier.
Competing in her third straight Grand Slam final, but first on the sport’s slowest surface, Sabalenka broke to love in the third game with smart play at the net and mixed deft drop shots and raw power to lead 4-1 in the first set.
Gauff broke back from 40-0 down after a shaky service game by Sabalenka, and hung on to draw level after eight games. What followed was a festival of mistakes from both players in challenging conditions, before Gauff forced a tie-break with a neat backhand winner — only to squander a 4-1 advantage as Sabalenka roared back to take the opening set.
Gauff, the 2023 US Open winner, barely flinched and she dialled up the intensity in the second set by claiming four of the opening five games, and levelled the match after her rival’s unforced error count climbed to 51.
The 2022 Paris runner-up stepped up another level in the deciding set to build a 3-1 lead before Sabalenka clawed her way back. However, she composed herself just in time and wrapped up the win to spark wild celebrations among her fans.
Sabalenka broke down in tears and apologised for what she labelled a “terrible final”. She had appeared to be in the driving seat after her 4-1 lead in the opening set, but made a staggering 70 unforced errors.
“This will hurt so much, especially after such a tough two weeks playing great tennis in terrible conditions. Thank you, my team, for the support, I’m sorry for this terrible final. As always, I will come back stronger,” the three-time Grand Slam champion said, as she stifled her sobs.
“To Coco: you deserve it, you’re a hard worker, a fighter.”
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