French Open – Coco Gauff is the new queen of Paris

American Coco Gauff defeated Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka in the final 6:7 (5-7), 6:2, 6:4 and for the first time in her career she triumphed in the French Open Grand Slam tournament. In the three previous editions of the Paris tournament, Iga Świątek was the best.

This is the second Grand Slam title in the 21-year-old Gauff's career. In 2023, she won the US Open, defeating... Sabalenka in the final.

In Monday's ranking, the Belarusian, who eliminated Świątek in the semifinals, will still be leading by a large margin, and the American will still be second. The Pole will drop from fifth to seventh.

The beginning of the match did not suggest a victory for Gauff. Sabalenka played brilliantly and quickly took a 4:1 lead.

The American tried to respond to her opponent's strong hits with the same, but she was very often wrong. Precise play was difficult due to gusts of wind. Sabalenka was also not impressed by her opponent's serve, which reached speeds of up to 199 km/h.

Finally, Gauff changed tactics and started playing more safely. The Belarusian forced her into defense, but the American managed. She held her opponent because she was still playing at great risk, which often made mistakes. In addition, Sabalenka sometimes made mistakes in simple situations.

The player from Florida made up for the loss and the fate of the set was decided by a tie-break. She started it very well, leading 4-1. However, she won only one of the next seven points. It was the Belarusian who found herself halfway to the title.

In the second set, Gauff improved her serve. She quickly took the initiative, winning 4:1 after a dozen or so minutes. The 27-year-old from Minsk, on the other hand, was growing frustrated. After 32 unforced errors in the first set, she added 19 in the second.

In the third set, the seventh game was crucial. At 3:3, Sabalenka let herself be broken without even scoring a point. Gauff increased the score to 5:3 a moment later.

The Belarusian tried to get back into the game. First, she reduced the deficit on her serve. Then, on Gauff's serve, she even defended a match point and had a break point. However, she did not use the opportunity, and on the next match point, the American did not make a mistake. The match lasted two hours and 38 minutes.

"I honestly didn't believe I could win. All our matches are very close," admitted Gauff, who claimed her fifth victory in their ninth meeting.

Throughout the match, Sabalenka made… 70 unforced errors, while Gauff made 30.

"It hurts terribly because after two weeks of great play I lost in these difficult conditions. Congratulations Coco on your second Slam, you did great," said Sabalenka with tears in her eyes, who later apologized to her team for "this terrible final."

One might get the impression that Gauff needed someone to eliminate Świątek to triumph in Paris. In the three previous editions, it was the Pole who beat the American, in the final, quarterfinal and semifinal respectively.

For the first time since 2013, the two highest-ranked players played in the final in Paris, when the number one American Serena Williams defeated the Russian Maria Sharapova 6-4, 6-4.

Final result:

Coco Gauff (USA, 2) – Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus, 1) 6:7 ​​(5-7), 6:2, 6:4. (PAP)

wkp/ pp/

American Coco Gauff defeated Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka in the final 6:7 (5-7), 6:2, 6:4 and for the first time in her career she triumphed in the French Open Grand Slam tournament. In the three previous editions of the Paris tournament, Iga Świątek was the best.

This is the second Grand Slam title in the 21-year-old Gauff's career. In 2023, she won the US Open, defeating... Sabalenka in the final.

In Monday's ranking, the Belarusian, who eliminated Świątek in the semifinals, will still be leading by a large margin, and the American will still be second. The Pole will drop from fifth to seventh.

The beginning of the match did not suggest a victory for Gauff. Sabalenka played brilliantly and quickly took a 4:1 lead.

The American tried to respond to her opponent's strong hits with the same, but she was very often wrong. Precise play was difficult due to gusts of wind. Sabalenka was also not impressed by her opponent's serve, which reached speeds of up to 199 km/h.

Finally, Gauff changed tactics and started playing more safely. The Belarusian forced her into defense, but the American managed. She held her opponent because she was still playing at great risk, which often made mistakes. In addition, Sabalenka sometimes made mistakes in simple situations.

The player from Florida made up for the loss and the fate of the set was decided by a tie-break. She started it very well, leading 4-1. However, she won only one of the next seven points. It was the Belarusian who found herself halfway to the title.

In the second set, Gauff improved her serve. She quickly took the initiative, winning 4:1 after a dozen or so minutes. The 27-year-old from Minsk, on the other hand, was growing frustrated. After 32 unforced errors in the first set, she added 19 in the second.

In the third set, the seventh game was crucial. At 3:3, Sabalenka let herself be broken without even scoring a point. Gauff increased the score to 5:3 a moment later.

The Belarusian tried to get back into the game. First, she reduced the deficit on her serve. Then, on Gauff's serve, she even defended a match point and had a break point. However, she did not use the opportunity, and on the next match point, the American did not make a mistake. The match lasted two hours and 38 minutes.

"I honestly didn't believe I could win. All our matches are very close," admitted Gauff, who claimed her fifth victory in their ninth meeting.

Throughout the match, Sabalenka made… 70 unforced errors, while Gauff made 30.

"It hurts terribly because after two weeks of great play I lost in these difficult conditions. Congratulations Coco on your second Slam, you did great," said Sabalenka with tears in her eyes, who later apologized to her team for "this terrible final."

One might get the impression that Gauff needed someone to eliminate Świątek to triumph in Paris. In the three previous editions, it was the Pole who beat the American, in the final, quarterfinal and semifinal respectively.

For the first time since 2013, the two highest-ranked players played in the final in Paris, when the number one American Serena Williams defeated the Russian Maria Sharapova 6-4, 6-4.

Final result:

Coco Gauff (USA, 2) – Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus, 1) 6:7 ​​(5-7), 6:2, 6:4. (PAP)

wkp/ pp/