PARIS — Coco Gauff claimed her first French Open title on Saturday, defeating World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in a three-set final at Roland Garros: 6–7(5), 6–2, 6–4. This marks the second Grand Slam title for the 21-year-old American, who previously won the U.S. Open in 2023.
Gauff’s win also makes her the first American woman to win the French Open since Serena Williams in 2015. She joins Venus Williams as one of the few players to come from a set down to defeat a world No. 1 in a major final. The match began with a closely contested first set, which Sabalenka edged in a tiebreak. However, Gauff responded strongly in the second set, breaking serve early and maintaining control throughout. In the deciding set, she secured a crucial break at 4–4 before serving out the match.
“I’m just really happy to win here,” Gauff said in her post-match interview. “It’s a tournament I’ve always wanted to win.”
Gauff had previously reached the final in Paris in 2022 but lost to Iga Świątek in straight sets. This year, Świątek was eliminated earlier in the tournament by Sabalenka, clearing the path for a new champion.
Sabalenka, who made 70 unforced errors during the match, acknowledged the windy conditions played a role. “It wasn’t my best day,” she said. “But credit to Coco—she played well.”
Gauff’s consistency and ability to adapt to conditions proved key. While both players struggled with timing and errors due to the blustery weather, Gauff maintained a better balance of aggression and patience. The American’s victory was met with applause from a packed Court Philippe-Chatrier. She later thanked her team and family, and said she hopes to continue building on this momentum throughout the season.
With this win, Gauff moves up in the rankings and strengthens her status as one of the sport’s leading young players.