#FrenchOpen - COCO 2.0. Gauff Takes Paris with Fire, Fight, and Family
- Romy Kraus
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
Coco Gauff, at just 21, rolled into Roland Garros and left with history in her grip
In a gritty, windswept battle against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, Gauff came from behind to win 6–7(5), 6–2, 6–4—her second Grand Slam title and her first on clay. This was more than just a win. It was a statement. A redemption arc two years in the making, born from defeat, doubt, and the kind of mental grit most players spend a career trying to find.
She's now the first American woman to win the French Open since Serena in 2015. The crowd roared, the wind swirled, and Gauff proved she wasn’t just made for the spotlight—she owns it.
The Lowdown
Mental strength was the real MVP. Gauff stayed grounded despite brutal wind conditions and losing a tight first set.
Sabalenka, known for her aggressive baseline game, collapsed under pressure with 70 unforced errors and six double faults.
Gauff joins Serena Williams as the only American women to win both the US Open and Roland Garros before turning 22.
She said she almost didn’t believe she could do it. Now she's got two Slam trophies, Spike Lee dap-ups, and a nation on her back.
“I was just trying to give myself the best chance and fight every point.”
Wind gusts made the match chaotic. Gauff described one side of the court as so dead “it was so hard to hit the ball and get it through,” while on the other, “if you didn’t celebrate, it would fly.”
She drew on past matches for composure. “I was down double break against Madison Keys, so I had thoughts of that match as well.”
Every point was about recalibrating. “Some shots that I felt really comfortable on on a normal day felt awful today.”
“I vividly remember watching her... and I was like ‘Wow, that’s such a cool moment.’”
Gauff stood on this same stage in 2022, watching Iga Swiatek take the trophy and listening to the Polish anthem. She said she “tried to take it all in” even through her own heartbreak.
Today, the anthem was hers. “I kind of had those reflections… It was a tough time. I was doubting myself.”
Before that match in 2022?
“I was crying like before the match and like so nervous and like literally couldn’t breathe.”
“I don't think that's a fair thing to say.”
After Sabalenka suggested Swiatek might’ve won had she made the final, Gauff pushed back. “I played her and I won in straight sets… I think I got the hardest matchup.”
Still, she had respect for both.
“Honestly, neither of them would have been a better shot. But you know, it played out how it played out.”
“I was like, I need some estrogen and some female energy here.”
Gauff spoke about the power of having her mom by her side during the tournament. “I’ve asked my dad to take a step back—and he did. I asked my mom to be on the road more.”
They’re the only ones she says really hear her pain. “They put so much sacrifice into this.”
She joked her dad cried at the US Open but not in Paris.
“My mom was pretty emotional. My dad was just happy.”
“You guys probably believe in me more than I do myself.”
The support from her team, fans, and especially the crowd hit deep. “You guys were cheering for me so hard, and I don’t know what I did to deserve such support.”
Being on the podium in front of them?
“It makes you feel like on top of the world.”
“If I can’t handle this, how am I going to handle it again?”
Gauff opened up about the mental struggle before her 2022 final—doubts, anxiety, and full-on panic.
Now she’s learned to ride the wave. “I was definitely freaking out… but I was just trying my best to stay calm.”
Perspective was key.
“If I lose this match, then at least I can say I gave it all out there.”
“The first person I’m going to dap up is Spike Lee.”
Yes, that was Spike courtside. “I saw him when I was warming up… I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, Spike Lee’s there.’”
She made a silent deal with herself—win the match, head straight to him.
“Even though the Knicks didn’t win, I’m glad I gave him something to cheer for.”
What’s Next
Q: Will she play Berlin or rest before Wimbledon?
A: “I’m signed up for Berlin right now… We’ll see if I play or not. For sure, I’m going to rest.”
Q: Why didn’t she speak French in the ceremony?
A: “I thought about writing something before the match but I didn’t want to jinx it.”
Q: What helps her stay calm in big moments?
A: “I told myself: if I lose, I go home, I get to see my boyfriend and everything like that… You go home, you reset.”
COCO’S CLAY CROWNING
Two years ago, she walked off this court crushed. Today, she walked off a champion—calm, collected, and holding a second Slam. Paris, meet your new queen of clay.
