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Gauff, Coco

Coco Gauff Wins Maiden French Open Title in Thrilling Upset

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Coco Gauff fulfilled her long-held dreams of winning the French Open on Saturday, defeating world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka in a highly challenging match. Gauff, 21, made a stunning comeback after losing the first set 6–7 (5/7), to emerge victorious 6–2, 6–4. The win marked Gauff's first title since the 2023 US Open final, where she also came back from a set down to beat Sabalenka. Gauff's victory was a testament to her perseverance and determination, having reached at least the quarter-finals in Paris in each of the previous four years. The American tennis star reflected on her journey, stating that she had given the experience of winning the French Open a lot of thought as a teenager, and felt a deep desire to experience it for herself.

Key Takeaways:

  • Coco Gauff became the first woman to defeat a world No 1 in a Grand Slam final from a set down since Venus Williams overcame Lindsay Davenport at Wimbledon in 2005.
  • Gauff's victory marked her first title since winning the WTA Finals last year, following final defeats to Sabalenka in Madrid and Jasmine Paolini in Rome.
  • The match was played in challenging windy conditions, with the roof of the Court Philippe-Chatrier being opened just before the match, allowing the wind to swirl through the stadium.
  • Both players struggled on serve, particularly in a 77-minute opening set that featured eight breaks.
  • Sabalenka described the playing conditions as "terrible", while Gauff acknowledged that it was part of the sport and part of playing outside.
  • American film director and devoted New York Knicks fan Spike Lee was among the crowd and celebrated with Gauff following her victory.
  • Gauff disagreed with Sabalenka's comment that she believed Sara Świątek would have won the title had she not ended the Pole's title defence in the semi-finals.

Statistics:

  • Coco Gauff's age: 21
  • Number of sets Gauff won: 2
  • Number of sets Sabalenka won: 1
  • Number of breaks Gauff made in the match: 10
  • Number of breaks Sabalenka made in the match: 9
  • Time of the match: 2 hours and 25 minutes
  • Coco Gauff's ranking: World No 2
  • Aryna Sabalenka's ranking: World No 1

Sources:

  • AFP

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