PARIS — Coco Gauff has gained the French Open for the primary time by defeating top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4 in Saturday’s last.
The second-ranked Gauff got here out on prime of a contest that was stuffed with stress and momentum swings to assert her second main trophy after the 2023 US Open, the place she additionally got here from a set all the way down to beat Sabalenka within the last.
It was the primary No. 1 vs. No. 2 last in Paris since 2013, when Serena Williams defeated Maria Sharapova, and simply the second within the final 30 years.
After Sabalenka despatched a backhand huge on Gauff’s second match level, the 21-year-old American fell onto her again, overlaying her face with each arms earlier than resting her forehand on the clay. After greeting Sabalenka on the internet, she hugged movie director Spike Lee and celebrated together with her entourage, three years after she misplaced in her first last at Roland-Garros.
Sabalenka began the deciding set strongly, sticking to her high-risk method to carry her first service recreation.
Gauff responded by elevating her degree, successful an outstanding rally within the third recreation that drew loud cheers and applause from the group. After an intense trade of drop pictures, Gauff hit a lob that Sabalenka chased down earlier than trying a shot between her legs — just for Gauff to intercept it on the internet and end with a winner.
Gauff was constant from the baseline and earned a break level which she transformed when Sabalenka double-faulted, giving her a 2-1 lead. Sabalenka turned towards her field and shouted in frustration however then regained her composure, breaking again to degree the match at 3-3.
She was damaged once more at love, nonetheless, and Gauff then held serve twice to claimed the title after a match that lasted 2 hours, 38 minutes.
