Coco Gauff always dreamed of winning the French Open. It was a childhood goal, one that felt etched into her destiny. So, when she mounted a thrilling comeback to defeat world No. 1 Arya Sabalenka in the final at Roland Garros last Saturday, Gauff couldn’t shake the feeling that it was meant to be. The win marked her second Grand Slam title and her most emotionally charged to date. Yet, amidst the celebration and adrenaline, one thing caught her off guard—the trophy she had long admired on TV wasn’t actually the one she’d take home.
“I always thought that giant trophy they hand you on court was yours to keep,” Gauff laughed in a TikTok video filmed aboard a private jet heading back to the U.S. “Turns out, nope. That one stays in Paris.” What she did get was a miniature version—a delicate silver keepsake about the size of a Perrier bottle. “It’s like a replica,” she explained while comparing it to a glass and a water bottle for scale. “Really small… but it’s the memories that matter the most.”
Her post, brimming with humor and pride, quickly gained traction on social media, adding a light-hearted twist to what had been a monumental week for the 21-year-old tennis star. Gauff is now the first American woman to win the French Open since Serena Williams, adding her name to the history books just three years after a crushing loss to Iga Swiatek in the same tournament.
Back then, Gauff was only 18—brilliant, bold, but not quite ready for that level of pressure. This time around, she showed just how far she’s come. Down a set after losing an intense tiebreaker that lasted more than an hour, Gauff regrouped during a brief bathroom break. “Honestly, I kind of had a little panic session,” she revealed on NBC’s Today Show. “I was like, ‘Oh my God, I’m so close to this thing I’ve dreamed about my whole life.’ But then I told myself, ‘Chill. There’s still more tennis to play.’”
A splash of water, a few deep breaths, and Gauff walked back onto the court with a new mindset. What followed were two gutsy sets played under tough conditions. She capitalized on Sabalenka’s errors, gritted out long rallies, and showcased the same fearlessness that had defined her U.S. Open win in 2023. But this time, there was something deeper—an emotional gravity that made the victory feel more personal.
“Winning the U.S. Open was such a relief,” Gauff told the Today Show audience. “But this one? This was pride. Pure pride. I wanted to prove that I could do it again. That the first time wasn’t a fluke. And that I could win on clay, especially in Paris.”
As she fell to the red clay in celebration, the moment was as much about growth as it was glory. The teenager who had once struggled to find her rhythm at Roland Garros had returned wiser, stronger, and more confident. And though she might not have taken home the oversized trophy of her dreams, the tiny replica in her luggage carried an even bigger weight.
“It’s small,” she said, holding up the silver prize again, “but it means everything.”
Gauff’s win isn’t just a triumph for her career—it’s a beacon for the future of American women’s tennis. With power, poise, and a growing fan base, she’s stepping into a space once occupied by legends. And judging by her performance, she’s here to stay.
So while the trophy may not be as grand as expected, the moment? That’s larger than life.
