This weekend, Coco Gauff made waves, winning the French Open title. She beat Aryna Sabalenka Saturday in a memorable women’s final. At only 21 years old, Gauff is a two-time Grand Slam champion. This victory follows her historic and resounding win at the 2023 U.S. Open. On top of that, this victory has made her the first American woman to win the French Open since 2015.
Gauff faced Sabalenka in a hard-fought match that showcased her resilience and skill. After losing the opening set 6-7, Gauff came storming back to take the final two sets 6-2, 6-4. To make matters worse, the stadium roof was open during the qualifying match. It was a theme Gauff had recognized in herself as she walked on the court. As soon as she recognized how windy it was going to be, she knew she needed a closed roof. She had trained under the same conditions in the days leading up to the final.
“When I stepped on the court, I was aware of the wind,” – Coco Gauff
While she was apprehensive about the condition at first, Gauff adjusted to the environment better than her opponent. After the match, it was nice to see Sabalenka give Gauff her flowers on Instagram story, admitting that Gauff played with confidence and determination.
“I think she won the match not because she played incredible; just because I made all of those mistakes … kind of like from easy balls.” – Aryna Sabalenka
Gauff’s composure under pressure and adaptability to the conditions were key factors in her winning the title. She highlighted making sure to keep Sabalenka running around to reduce the errors from her own racket.
“I had to force her to play that way and make a lot of balls and put those balls in the court,” – Coco Gauff
When Gauff won, her celebration was unbridled joy. She said it felt like a dream she’d always wished for coming true, one she worked beyond measure to make happen. Looking back on her journey, she expressed how thankful she was to have made it this far.
“I think the main piece of advice everyone’s told me is to take it in and soak it in, and then when it’s time to get back to work, get back to work,” – Coco Gauff
Gauff said she is looking forward to play at this summer’s Wimbledon, which begins June 30. Her breakthrough this year at Roland Garros certainly raised the bar for how fans and pundits alike will expect her to perform on grass courts.
