Gauff Defeats Sabalenka for French Open Title

Coco Gauff won her first French Open and second Grand Slam by defeating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in a dramatic three-set final, becoming the first American woman to win at Roland Garros since Serena Williams in 2015. Gauff showed resilience by rallying after losing the first set and taking advantage of Sabalenka's 70 unforced errors despite windy conditions. After the victory, Gauff shared an emotional message encouraging perseverance and referenced a motivational note she wrote in 2021. Sabalenka controversially suggested that Iga Swiatek would have won if she reached the final, a claim Gauff refuted by citing her own recent win over Swiatek. Gauff’s victory was celebrated by public figures including Barack and Michelle Obama, LeBron James, and Billie Jean King. The win solidifies Gauff’s status as a leading figure in women’s tennis and a successor to the Williams sisters’ legacy.