Coco Gough won the French Open for the first time in Saturday’s final in her second Grand Slam title, beating top-ranked Alina Sabalenka 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4.
The second Gouf made fewer mistakes in a contest full of tension and momentum to make Sabalenka better for the second time in the Grand Slam Final. She also came from the set to beat the Belarusians at the 2023 US Open Finals.
Gouf lifted the winner’s trophy high and kissed him a few times. When the US national anthem was played, she held her hand over her heart. She is the first American to win a singles title with Roland Garos since Serena Williams in 2015.
She then thanked her parents for doing everything they could, from washing my clothes to continuing to ground me and giving them the belief that I could do that.
“You probably believe in me more than you do,” Goff said in her on-court speech.
It was the number one and second final in Paris since 2013 when Williams defeated Maria Sharapois. It’s the second in the last 30 years.
After Sabalenka sent a backhand at Gauff’s second match point, the 21-year-old American fell on his back, covering his face with both hands as he began to sob, and woke up and squeezed his mouth. She patted the clay with her left hand and continued sobing.
Gouf greeted Sabalenka online in a warm embrace, thanking the referee, Gouf cried out in joy and relief, then reached her lap and continued to cry as he tasted the victory.
She later hugged film director Spike Lee and celebrated her box with her entourage three years after losing in the first Grand Slam final at Roland Garos.
In her on-court speech, she also added that the 18-year-old’s 2022 defeat left her in a “dark place” and thanked the court’s Philip Chatrier fans who were primarily rooting for her.
“The crowd really helped me today. You were cheering me so hard. I don’t know what I did to be so love-worthy from the French crowd,” she said. “But I thank you, everyone.”
Sabalenka shed tears as she gave her speech. Having struggled to find her words, she praised Goff for being a “fighter” and said she deserved victory, but added that the windy state was made for a contest littered with errors.
“This hurts so much. Congratulations, in tough conditions, you were a better player than me,” she said. “Well done, congratulations on two great weeks and a second Grand Slam, that’s no surprise.”
Both players were sloppy in the first set, admitting chances of 21 breakpoints, committing 48 forced errors, and Sabalenka has earned 32 but still won the set. She made 70 overall in matches compared to 30 overall for Gauff.
Sabalenka was often annoyed on the first set, remembering herself, screaming, and often turning around to look at the team, angering her face. She held her head a few times and raised her shoulders at one point, as if to say, “What’s going on?”
The first set seemed to be on the path of Goff when she led 3-0 with the tiebreaker, but Sabalenka stabilized herself and mowed it with a forehand volley in the net.
Gauff chose her spot better in the second set, and the crowd cheered louder as the net smash levelled the match.
However, Sabalenka began the decision set strongly and stuck to her high-risk approach to hosting her first service game.
Gouf responded by leveling up and winning a great rally in the third game, yelling loudly. After a fierce exchange of drop shots, Gauff hit the lob that Sabalenka chased before attempting a shot between his legs. Just Gauff intercepts it online and finishes with the winner.
Gauff was consistent from the baseline, scoring the breakpoints that Sabalenka converted when he double folded, giving him a 2-1 lead. Sabalenka regained his composure and fought back to level the match 3-3.
However, she broke again with love, and Gauff served twice, twice to win the title after a match that lasted 38 minutes.
Gauff owns two French open trophies after winning the women’s doubles title last year.
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