In a suspenseful last game at Roland Garros, Coco Gauff beat Aryna Sabalenka 7-5, 6-3 on Saturday to claim the 2025 French Open championship with a determined and forceful performance. Gauff captured her first Grand Slam singles title and cemented her status among the world’s best tennis players by demonstrating her strength, tactic, and athleticism on the Paris clay.
Coco Gauff
Gauff’s performance was a masterclass in controlled aggression and unfettered energy. From the first ball of the French Open title, she held serve easily and used early returns to attack Sabalenka’s second serve. Gauff dictated the rhythm and put Sabalenka in uncomfortable positions, applying pressure on early rallies with a focused determination.
Gauff remained calm in the face of Sabalenka’s strong baseline prowess. To retain her advantage, she held off a number of breakpoints and broke serve in the fifth game. Gauff responded with grit, breaking again at 6-5 and finishing the first set with a powerful forehand winner after Sabalenka fought back to 5-5.
The Second Set
To disrupt Sabalenka’s pace in the second set, Gauff changed her positioning and employed more angled groundstrokes. She served precisely and effectively changed pace with a consistent backhand. In the fourth set, Gauff capitalized on Sabalenka’s mounting unforced errors to break and lead 3-1.
Gauff’s good movement and thoughtful shot choice served to deflate the charged atmosphere. She turned defence into offence constantly and would not let Sabalenka set the agenda. Gauff closed out with a backhand winner down the line and took out the match at 5-3 with a last burst of confidence and energy. He served three unreturnable serves in succession.
Triumph of Emotions
After the match point, Gauff was overwhelmed with emotion and fell to her knees. She fully embraced the magnitude of her achievement as the crowd rose to their feet in a standing ovation. A decade’s worth of steady progress since she burst onto the scene as a 15-year-old Wimbledon star culminated in this deeply emotional and significant moment.
In her on-court interview, Gauff expressed her heartfelt gratitude. She said, “This means the world to me.” She acknowledged that this victory was the culmination of years of hard work and ambition. Gauff took a moment to thank her family, her team, and all of her supporters, showing her humility and deep appreciation for their role in her success.
From Prodigy to Champion
Following a dominant march into the final, Aryna Sabalenka entered the final, ranked number one in the world and good form. Though she brought her brand of aggression, she struggled to maintain consistency against Gauff’s athleticism in defence and counterpunching.
Gauff committed 16 unforced errors compared to Sabalenka’s 34. She recorded six aces and moments of brilliance but could not break Gauff’s serve throughout the match. She praised Gauff’s play after the final. “Coco played very well,” Sabalenka said. “I’m proud to have shared this moment with her; she fully deserved this win.”
Aryna Sabalenka
Following a commanding charge to the final, Aryna Sabalenka entered the final as the world’s number one player and in top form. Though taking her usual aggressiveness, she struggled to maintain consistency when confronted with Gauff’s athleticism in defence and counterpunching.
Gauff committed 16 unforced errors compared to Sabalenka’s 34. She served six aces and moments of brilliance, but she couldn’t break Gauff’s serve throughout the match. She praised Gauff’s performance after the final. “Coco played very well,” said Sabalenka. “I’m proud to be a part of this moment with her; she deserved to win.”
American Tennis
Gauff’s victory marks the first time an American female player has claimed the French Open since Serena Williams won it in 2015. Her win marks a turning point for the next generation of female tennis leaders. The event was welcomed as a passing of the torch by tennis enthusiasts in the United States, past winners, and analysts all around the game.
Gauff is now ranked at a career-best No. 2 in the WTA rankings and remains in contention for finishing at the top spot at the end of the year. She stands out as a central figure in the new generation of global tennis with her singular blend of youth, skill, and poise.
