Credited from: HUFFPOST
Coco Gauff captured her first French Open title by overcoming world number one Aryna Sabalenka in a thrilling final, winning 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4 on Saturday, June 7. Gauff's victory is particularly significant as it makes her the first American woman to win the title since Serena Williams in 2015, reaffirming her rise in the tennis world after previously reaching the final in 2022 but losing to Iga Swiatek, according to BBC.
The match was characterized by intense pressure with a total of 100 unforced errors, influenced by challenging windy conditions on the Court Philippe Chatrier. Sabalenka initially took the first set but faltered in the following two, allowing Gauff to capitalize on her opponent's weaknesses, especially as her error count climbed to 70, according to SCMP and Channel News Asia.
Gauff's performance was marked by her resilience, reflecting her growth since her previous final appearance. After trailing in the first set, she bounced back with a dominant second set and sustained her composure in the deciding set to seal the match. "It wasn’t pretty, but it got the job done," Gauff stated post-match, acknowledging the difficulties presented by the weather, according to Reuters and India Times.
Reflecting on her emotional journey, Gauff has expressed gratitude for the support from the crowd and her family, who have been instrumental in her success. The victory marks a pivotal moment for Gauff, transforming the memory of her painful 2022 loss into a celebration of resilience and triumph as she lifted the Suzanne Lenglen trophy, while also eyeing to continue her impressive trajectory in the sport's elite ranks, according to Le Monde and NPR.