Coco Gauff Battles Back from Brink to Demolish World No. 1 and Claim Glory on Paris Clay
PARIS — In a heart-stopping thriller that had 15,000 fans on the edge of their seats, American sensation Coco Gauff produced one of the greatest comebacks in French Open history to defeat world number one Aryna Sabalenka 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4 and capture her second Grand Slam crown on Saturday.
The 21-year-old from Delray Beach, Florida, refused to surrender after dropping a grueling first set that lasted an exhausting 78 minutes, roaring back with devastating precision to become the first American woman to lift the trophy at Roland Garros since Serena Williams a decade ago.
Drama From the Opening Serve
The championship clash between the world’s top two players delivered on every promise of high-octane drama. Sabalenka, the hard-hitting Belarusian seeking her fourth major title, appeared to have Gauff’s number early on, racing to a commanding 4-1 lead in the opening set.
But in a display of the fighting spirit that has made her a fan favorite worldwide, Gauff clawed her way back to level at 4-4, saving two set points in the process and pushing the first set to a nail-biting tiebreak.
I was trying to be more aggressive in the second set, which, it worked,” Gauff revealed after her triumph. “Then the third, I knew she was going to raise her level… I was just, like, I have to try to match it. And, yeah, just run.”
The Turning Point
After narrowly losing the first-set tiebreak 7-5, lesser champions might have crumbled. Not Gauff. The young American emerged from the changeover like a woman possessed, breaking Sabalenka immediately and racing to a 4-1 lead in the second set.
The transformation was remarkable — Gauff was suddenly hitting deeper, moving faster, and turning defense into devastating offense. She closed out the second set 6-2 in just 39 minutes, sending shockwaves through Court Philippe-Chatrier.
Third Set Thriller
The deciding set provided edge-of-your-seat entertainment as both players traded breaks early. With the match hanging in the balance at 3-3, Gauff produced a moment of magic — a thunderous backhand crosscourt winner to complete a love service break and seize control at 4-3.
Sabalenka, who had committed just one unforced error in her entire third set against Iga Swiatek in the semifinals, suddenly couldn’t find her range. The world number one finished with a staggering 70 unforced errors compared to Gauff’s 30.
Championship Point Drama
The final game was a microcosm of the entire match — pure theater. Serving for the championship at 5-4, Gauff faced immediate pressure as Sabalenka saved one match point with a blistering return winner that kissed the corner.
But on the second championship point, Gauff produced a miraculous backhand that caught the baseline, leaving Sabalenka stunned. The Belarusian’s return sailed wide, and Gauff collapsed to the clay in disbelief, her hands covering her face as tears of joy flowed.
Redemption Story Three Years in the Making
Saturday’s triumph marked sweet redemption for Gauff, who had suffered a crushing straight-sets defeat to Iga Swiatek in the 2022 French Open final when she was just 18 years old.
“I want to thank my team… you remind me there’s more to life than tennis, and I think that’s what makes me play better on the court,” an emotional Gauff said during the trophy ceremony, pausing to kiss the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen.
The victory extends Gauff’s head-to-head lead over Sabalenka to 6-5 and marks her second win over the Belarusian in a Grand Slam final, having previously defeated her for the 2023 US Open title.
Historic Achievement
With this victory, Gauff becomes the youngest American woman to win the French Open since a 20-year-old Serena Williams claimed the title in 2002. She also ended an 11-year drought for American women at Roland Garros.
The triumph earned Gauff a whopping €2,550,000 (approximately $2.7 million) in prize money and 2,000 ranking points, ensuring she maintains her career-high world number two ranking.
Sabalenka’s Heartbreak
For Sabalenka, the defeat was particularly painful. The 27-year-old had been in scintillating form throughout the tournament, ending Swiatek’s remarkable 26-match winning streak at Roland Garros in the semifinals.
The world number one was visibly emotional during the trophy presentation, tears streaming down her face as she contemplated what might have been. Despite the loss, she collected €1,275,000 in prize money and will retain her number one ranking.
What’s Next?
Gauff’s victory sets up an intriguing summer as she looks to defend her US Open crown later this year. With two Grand Slam titles before her 22nd birthday, the American appears destined for even greater heights.
“It really came down to the last few points, but overall I’m just really happy with the fight that I managed today,” Gauff said, still processing the magnitude of her achievement.
As for Sabalenka, she’ll look to bounce back at Wimbledon, where her powerful game is well-suited to the grass courts. But for now, this day belongs to Coco Gauff — the young American who refused to give up and wrote her name into French Open history.
By the Numbers
- 2 hours 38 minutes: Match duration
- 70: Sabalenka’s unforced errors
- 30: Gauff’s unforced errors
- 15: Combined service breaks
- 6-5: Gauff’s career head-to-head lead over Sabalenka
- €2,550,000: Gauff’s prize money
- 21: Gauff’s age, making her the youngest American champion since Serena Williams
The 2025 French Open will be remembered as the tournament where Coco Gauff announced herself as the future of women’s tennis — and perhaps its present, too.
Image credit: Coco Gauff (2023 French Open) 01 by Hameltion, taken on 9 June 2023 during the women’s doubles semifinals at Roland‑Garros, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution‑ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY‑SA 4.0) .
