In a highly anticipated final for women’s tennis at the French Open, number one Aryna Sabalenka beat Coco Gauff by winning an exciting three-set match and claiming her first Rolland Garros title. The July 7 match, played on Court Philippe-Chatrier, was an exciting encounter between the top two players in the world shows what makes tennis so popular. Sabalenka won her match 7-5, 2-6, 6-3, ending Gauff’s ambition to win another Grand Slam title and achieve her very first on clay.
A Final Built on Momentum Swings
Right from the beginning, chances looked to be given to the players who could take control of the game. Gauff got off to a good start by keeping her serve in control and racing across Sabalenka’s powerful shots. Keeping up the pressure, American Rogers broke Sabalenka to get ahead 4-2. But thanks to her signature “in your face” play and experience in tough matches, Sabalenka took the lead in the first set with clean victories, winning 7-5 after breaking Gauff twice.
There was a different approach in the second set. Just after letting go of her disappointment, Gauff stayed composed. Azarenka made a quick start, took advantage of Sabalenka’s few moments of inaccuracy, and won the set by a score of 6-2. Her swift movement on the court and turning her defense into offense made the Parisian crowd cheer, as they strongly supported the 21-year-old American.
Sabalenka’s Power Shines in the Third
After the first set ended in a tie, both players had to challenge their endurance and mindset. Looking for her first time in Paris and her fourth Slam title, Sabalenka worked on her serving and aggressively pushed her opponent from the start. She broke Gauff’s serve in the fourth game from there on. While Gauff tried to get ahead, Sabalenka stayed in control and showed that she can play well under stress.
A key point of the match was when Gauff stood at 4-2 and had two chances to break her opponent’s serve. Sabalenka managed to save both of her break points with good serves and then hit an amazing backhand shot that was hard to return. That point brought Gauff’s hopes down and gave Sabalenka the boost she needed to finish off the set 6-3 and win the title.
An Emotional Ending for Both Players
As she celebrated by falling to her knees, it made clear that all the hard work and effort had paid off with victory at Roland Garros. She was in the semifinals previously, but she had never gotten past the final round until this time.
Though she was touched by the win, Gauff managed to hold herself together during the ceremony. She explained maturely how far she has come from her first final in Paris in 2022 and what she has learned in that period. She acknowledged that it wasn’t easy, but she still wanted to try again. I understand that my time will arrive when it should.
What’s Next for the World’s Top Two
Both teams might continue to face each other in future games. With both Sabalenka and Gauff acquiring major titles, coupled with Iga Swiatek leaving the French Open early, there is now no clear top player in women’s tennis. On Saturday, both athletes proved that they can battle challenges in important tournaments, and fans should be prepared for more future meetings in Grand Slams.
Now, Sabalenka has further established herself as one of the best players after Serena and secured her place at the top of the rankings. Losing to Gauff is just another step in an already great career, and she returns to Paris even more motivated.
