After a shaky start in the opening set, Coco Gauff roared back with fierce determination, toppling world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 in a chaotic yet thrilling French Open final on Saturday. The 21-year-old American now boasts two Grand Slam titles, adding this clay-court crown to her 2023 U.S. Open triumph. Despite eight double faults and a struggling serve, Gauff became the first American woman since Serena Williams in 2015 to lift the French Open singles trophy. The match, riddled with errors and drama, lasted two hours and 37 minutes.
Down 3-1 in the deciding set, Sabalenka managed to break back and level the match at 3-3. But just as quickly, the momentum slipped from her grasp. She was broken again in the seventh game as rain began to drizzle onto Court Philippe-Chatrier, the roof surprisingly left open. Her comeback hopes faded fast.
Sabalenka’s frustrations were palpable. She racked up 70 unforced errors and six double faults. Several times, she lashed out in anger, shouting at her coaching box and nearly hitting a ball kid after a misfired return. Despite the crushing loss, the Belarusian will maintain her No. 1 ranking in the upcoming WTA update.
The match began with a promising start from Gauff, who held her opening service game. But the tide quickly turned as Sabalenka broke her in both the third and fifth games. At 4-1 up and cruising toward a first-set win, Sabalenka looked in control. Gauff, however, dug deep. After dropping seven straight points on serve, she broke back and clawed her way into contention, saving a triple break point in the process.
As Sabalenka’s game began to unravel, Gauff capitalized. The top seed lost 12 consecutive points at one stretch, allowing Gauff to even the set. In a wild, windy exchange filled with service breaks and double faults, Gauff edged out Sabalenka in a marathon 13-minute 10th game. Still, the opening set ultimately went to Sabalenka in a tiebreak, 7-6, after a 78-minute battle that swayed with every point.
Second Set Surge: Gauff Resets and Responds
Not to be outdone, Gauff bounced back with poise and power in the second set. She sprinted out to a 4-1 lead as Sabalenka continued to self-destruct. With another 15 unforced errors added to her tally, Sabalenka had little answer for Gauff’s composure. The American wrapped up the second set 6-2, leveling the match and setting the stage for a gripping finale.
Final Set Drama: Nerves, Noise, and Narrow Margins
In the deciding set, both players exchanged early breaks. Sabalenka erased a 3-1 deficit, but Gauff took control again with a break in the seventh game. As rain fell and tensions rose, Gauff maintained her edge. Despite visible nerves and an unpredictable serve, she held firm in the closing games, sealing the win to claim her first French Open title.
Gauff vs. Sabalenka: Rivalry Intensifies
This match marked their 11th meeting, with the rivalry now deadlocked at 5-5. Their Grand Slam head-to-head stands at 2-2, and they are evenly split on clay. Just last month, Sabalenka defeated Gauff in straight sets to claim the Madrid title. Their last major meeting saw Sabalenka oust Gauff in the 2024 Australian Open semifinals. But Gauff got the upper hand in the 2023 U.S. Open final, winning her first major by beating the Belarusian 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Event Details: Time, TV, and Streaming
The French Open women’s final was scheduled for 9 a.m. ET (3 p.m. local time in Paris) on Saturday and was broadcast live on TNT. Fans could also stream the match on Sling.
Gauff’s Grand Slam Resume Expands
Gauff now owns two Grand Slam singles titles. Alongside her U.S. Open win in 2023, she has now reached two French Open finals—2022 and 2025—and a semifinal at the Australian Open in 2024. She’s also made three fourth-round appearances at Wimbledon (2019, 2021, and 2024).
Sabalenka’s Slam Record Grows
Though the French Open title remains elusive, Sabalenka holds three major titles: the 2023 and 2024 Australian Open crowns and the 2024 U.S. Open. This was her debut French Open final. She previously reached the Wimbledon semifinals in 2021 and 2023.
Road to the Final: Gauff’s Path
As the No. 2 seed, Gauff dispatched:
- Olivia Gadecki (6-2, 6-2)
- Tereza Valentova (6-2, 6-4)
- Marie Bouzkova (6-1, 7-6)
- Ekaterina Alexandrova (6-0, 7-5)
- Madison Keys (6-7, 6-4, 6-1)
- Lois Boisson (6-1, 6-2)
Sabalenka’s Road to the Final
As the tournament’s top seed, Sabalenka defeated:
- Kamilla Rakhimova (6-1, 6-0)
- Jil Teichmann (6-3, 6-1)
- Olga Danilovic (6-2, 6-3)
- Amanda Anisimova (7-5, 6-3)
- Zheng Qinwen (7-6, 6-3)
- Iga Swiatek (7-6, 4-6, 6-0)
Final Odds Recap
As of Thursday, June 5 (via BetMGM):
- Sabalenka: -190 favorite
- Gauff: +160 underdog
But on Saturday, it was Coco Gauff who defied the odds and claimed her throne on Parisian clay.