Paris, Jun 7 (UNI) In a pulsating three-set final that captivated a packed Court Philippe-Chatrier, young American star Coco Gauff scripted a sensational comeback to win her maiden Roland-Garros title, defeating World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4 here on Saturday.
The 21-year-old Gauff, seeded second, recovered from a heart-breaking 78-minute first-set tiebreak loss to dominate the next two sets with remarkable composure and power, sealing the biggest clay court victory of her career in 2 hours and 38 minutes.
This is Gauff’s second Grand Slam title, adding to her US Open triumph in 2023, and marks a milestone for American tennis, making her the first American woman to win the French Open singles title since Serena Williams in 2015 and the youngest since Serena’s 2002 victory in Paris.
The match was a rollercoaster of emotions and momentum swings. Sabalenka, dominant early, surged to a double-break 4-1 lead in the opening set. But Gauff clawed her way back to force a tiebreak, where the Belarusian top seed held her nerve to edge it 7-5.
Unfazed by the setback, Gauff stormed back in the second set with clinical aggression, racing to a 4-1 lead and closing it out 6-2 in just 32 minutes. The third set brought more drama, with Gauff breaking early and Sabalenka levelling at 3-3 before the American broke again and held her nerve to serve out the match at 6-4, sending the Chatrier spectators into raptures.
Gauff’s blend of speed, tactical maturity, and defensive grit ultimately overwhelmed Sabalenka, who struggled with consistency in the wind and racked up unforced errors at key moments.
This victory not only solidifies Gauff’s status as a Grand Slam champion on multiple surfaces but also as a torchbearer for the next generation of women’s tennis.
Sabalenka, chasing her third major title, was gracious in defeat. With this historic win, Gauff now inches closer to the No.1 spot in the WTA rankings and reaffirms her place among the sport’s elite.
