Coco Gauff Becomes First American Woman Since Serena Williams To Win French Open
by Adam Zagoria · ForbesCoco Gauff roared back from a set down to capture her first Roland Garros title and become the first American woman in a decade to win the French Open.
No. 2 Gauff overcame a first-set deficit to beat No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4 to become the first American woman since Serena Williams in 2015 to win the title in Paris.
Gauff became the seventh American woman to win Roland Garros in the Open Era. She won her second major following the 2023 U.S. Open, where she also overcame a one-set deficit to beat Sabalenka.
Gauff had previously lost in the 2022 French Open final in straight sets to Iga Swiatek.
The winner takes home nearly $2.9 million and the runner-up $1.4 million.
In the decisive third set, Sabalenka double-faulted to give Gauff a break for 2-1.
Gauff led 3-1 and had break points for 4-1 but Sabalenka held and then broke for 3-all.
Gauff roared back and broke at love for 4-3 with a backhand crosscourt winner. Sabalenka sailed a backhand long as Gauff seized a 5-3 lead.
Serving at 5-4, 30-all, Gauff crushed a forehand crosscourt winner to earn match point. But Sabalenka hit the baseline with a forehand that staved it off.
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Sabalenka had a break point at ad-out, but hit a forehand wide.
On the second match point, Sabalenka hit a backhand wide and Gauff felt to her back on the court.
In a first set that featured eight service breaks, Sabalenka roared out to a 4-1, 40- lead and appeared to be cruising. She won 16 of the first 22 points.
But Gauff found her groove and won 12 straight points to tighten it up.
Sabalenka twice served for the set before Gauff broke her for 6-all with a backhand down the line.
Sabalenka stuck a forehand volley winner to win the first set in the tiebreak despite committing 32 unforced errors.
In the second set, Gauff raced out to a quick lead, winning 10 straight points to go up 2-0. She broke again for 5-2 and then served it, evening the match at one set apiece with a forehand overhead winner.