_American Coco Gauff celebrates after winning her women’s singles final match against Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka at the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on June 7, 2025. Credit – Alain JocardâGetty Images_
Call (https://time.com/collection/time100-leadership-series/6970223/coco-gauff-interview-2024/ “â”)the queen of clay.
The American phenom, just 21 years old, won the second Grand Slam championship of her career on Saturday, outlasting world No. 1(https://time.com/7018984/aryna-sabalenka-wins-us-open-2024/ “â”)of Belarus 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4 at the French Open final in Paris. Sheâs the first American to win the French since (https://time.com/7277099/serena-williams-interview-time100-2025/ “â”) did so in 2015: no American man has won a singles title on Roland Garros clay since Andre Agassi in 1999.
Gauffâs effort was remarkably resilient. She trailed in the first set 4-1, with Sabalenka on serve and up 40-0. Viewers could be forgiven for looking ahead to the second set. Or wondering if Gauffâs experience at the 2022 French Open final, where she lost to (https://time.com/6273975/iga-swiatek-tennis-psychology-training/ “â”)ĹwiÄ tek in straight sets, was haunting her. Gauff said she had anxiety attacks before that match, and was never really in it.
On Saturday, however, Gauff countered by winning twelve straight points. As the(https://time.com/6312450/coco-gauff-win-us-open-2023/ “â”), Gauff is now a more experienced competitor than she was three years ago. And an improved player. The windy conditions in Paris seemed to bother Sabalenkaâs serve more than it did Gauffâs. They played a grinding first set, featuring a few long games and impressive rallies. Serving for the set at 5-4, Sabalenka couldnât finish off Gauff, who saved two set points and finally broke Sabalenka on her fifth chance. Later, a Gauff backhand winner, on the run, sent the set into a tiebreaker, where Sabalenka did prevail.
But Sabalenka couldnât carry the momentum over to the second set. Gauffâs love break put her up 5-2 in the set, and she held serve at love to finish it out. Sabalenka could only shake her head in dismay.
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In the third set, Sabalanka double faulted to give Gauff a break, allowing the American to go up 2-1. Sabalenka charged on Gauff a short ball, but smashed it into the net to give Gauff a 3-1 advantage. Sabalenka fought back to tie the set up at 3-3, but while on serve she double-faulted and shouted at her coaching box. Gauff won the game to go up 4-3.
Both players held the next two games. With Gauff serving for the title at 5-4, she got down to business. Collected all match long while Sabalenka seemed to lose her cool at times, her serve was on point. Sabalenka kept battling, but on Gauffâs second championship point, she sent a cross-court shot wide, ending the match. Gauffâs back fell to the Roland Garros clay.
She went up into the stands to hug her mom Candi, dad Coreyâwho doesnât sit in the courtside box during matches, his nerves too frayedâher coach and others.
The match took two hours and 38 minutes. Sabalenka committed 70 unforced errors, to Gauffâs 30.
âYouâre a fighter,â said Sabalenka to Gauff after the match.
The next major tournament for Gauff is Wimbledon, where she first burst onto the global stage a half dozen years ago, when she beat Venus Williams and reached the fourth round, aged just 15. Then the U.S. Open in New York City, to try to regain that throne.
Sabalenka seemed minutes away from running away from that first set, and perhaps the match; a win would have given her two of the last three Grand Slam titles, and made her the unquestioned dominant player in tennis. Not so fast. Gauffâs just too fastâand right now, the bestâon clay. And sheâs all set for a monster summer.