After a slow start in the first set, Coco Gauff staked her claim as one of this season’s queens of clay, storming back to upset top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 in a sloppy, mistake-filled French Open final on Saturday.
It’s the second Grand Slam title for the 21-year-old Gauff, who adds the 2023 U.S. Open crown to her triumphs. Gauff, who had split the previous 10 matches with Sabalenka, became the first American woman to win the French Open singles title since Serena Williams in 2015, despite eight double faults and having trouble with her serve at times in the match that took two hours and 37 minutes.
Down 3-1 in the third set, the Belarus native broke Gauff to even the match at three, but was broken again in the seventh game, as the rain started to come down at Court Philippe-Chatrier with the roof remaining open, but couldn’t maintain the momentum.
Sabalenka, who had 70 unforced errors and six double faults, was clearly frustrated with her play at times, yelling at her coaches in the stands after a shot out of play or into the net and nearly hitting a kid running after a ball following one of those mistakes. Despite the loss, Sabalenka will keep the No. 1 spot in the next WTA rankings.
After winning the first game of the match, Gauff was broken in the third and fifth games. Sabalenka neutralized Gauff’s serve, sprinting out to a 4-1 lead and a 40-love lead in the next game. But Gauff showed resilience, breaking back after losing seven straight points on serve before saving a triple break point.
Sabalenka was broken again in the eighth game, and Gauff squared up the match, thanks to the top-seed unraveling, at one point losing 12 straight points.
In a recurring theme, Sabalenka, who had four double faults and 32 unforced errors, thanks to a nearly 30 mph gusting wind, and Gauff took turns breaking each other’s serve, including Gauff getting the upper hand in a 13-minute 10th game. The hour and 17-minute set went to a tiebreak, with Gauff taking the first three points, before Sabalenka stormed back to take the set 7-6.
Here’s a recap of the French Open women’s final:
Gauff bounces back with dominant play to force deciding third set
In the second set, it was Gauff who got out to a 4-1 lead, and Sabalenka continued to pile up the unenforced errors. After racking up 32 unforced errors in the first set, Sabalenka added 15 more, as Gauff settled down and blitzed the three-time major winner, taking the second set 6-2.
On to the third and deciding set, in what has been a thrilling, yet mistake-filled final.
Sabalenka takes thrilling first set over Gauff at French Open final
After winning the first game of the match, Coco Gauff was broken in the third and fifth games as Aryna Sabalenka neutralized Gauff’s serve, sprinting out to a 4-1 lead and a 40-love lead in the next game. But Gauff showed resilience, breaking back after losing seven straight points on serve before saving a triple break point.
Sabalenka was broken again in the eighth game and Gauff squared up the match, thanks to the top-seed unraveling, at one point losing 12 straight points. In a recurring theme, Sabalenka, who had four double faults and 32 unforced errors, thanks to a nearly 30 mph gusting wind, and Gauff took turns breaking each other’s serve, including Gauff getting the upper hand in a 13-minute 10th game. The hour-and-18-minute set went to a tiebreak, with Gauff taking the first three points before Sabalenka stormed back to take the set 7-6.
Coco Gauff vs. Aryna Sabalenka head to head
The head-to-head matchup between Gauff and Sabalenka is tied 5-5 overall, 1-1 in majors and 1-1 on clay. Most recently, Sabalenka edged out Gauff 6-3, 7-6 to win in the Madrid finals on clay in Spain last month.
Their last meeting in a major came in the semifinals of the 2024 Australian Open, where Sabalenka defeated Gauff 7-6, 6-4 on a hard court. Before that, Gauff defeated Sabalenka 2-6, 6-3 in the 2023 U.S. Open final – also on hard court – to claim the first Grand Slam singles title of her career.
What time does French Open women’s final start?
The French Open women’s final between American Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus is set for Saturday at 9 a.m. ET (3 p.m. in Paris).
What TV channel is showing French Open women’s final?
The French Open women’s final between Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka will be broadcast live on TNT.
Watch the French Open women’s final on Sling
How many Grand Slam singles titles has Coco Gauff won?
Coco Gauff has won one Grand Slam singles title: the 2023 US Open women’s singles championship. She has reached the French Open final twice: 2022 and this year. Her best result in the Australian Open is the semifinals in 2024. She has reached the fourth round of Wimbledon three times (2019, 2021, 2024).
How many Grand Slam singles titles has Aryna Sabalenka won?
Aryna Sabalenka has won three Grand Slam women’s singles titles: the 2023 and 2024 Australian Open and the 2024 US Open. She reached the final of the French time for the first time in her career this year and the Wimbledon semifinals in 2021 and 2023.
Coco Gauff’s path to French Open women’s final
Tournament’s No. 2 seed
1st round: Defeated Olivia Gadecki 6-2, 6-2
2nd round: Defeated Tereza Valentova 6-2, 6-4
3rd round: Defeated Marie Bouzkova 6-1, 7-6 (7-3)
4th round: Defeated (20) Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-0, 7-5
Quarterfinals: Defeated (7) Madison Keys 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 6-1
Semifinals: Defeated Lois Boisson 6-1, 6-2
Aryna Sabalenka’s path to French Open women’s final
Tournament’s No. 1 seed
1st round: Defeated Kamilla Rakhimova 6-1, 6-0
2nd round: Defeated Jil Teichmann 6-3, 6-1
3rd round: Defeated Olga Danilovic 6-2, 6-3
4th round: Defeated (16) Amanda Anisimova 7-5, 6-3
Quarterfinals: Defeated (8) Zheng Qinwen 7-6 (7-3), 6-3
Semifinals: Defeated (5) Iga Swiatek 7-6 (7-1), 4-6, 6-0
French Open women’s final odds: Gauff vs. Sabalenka money line
Odds to win the 2025 French Open women’s singles final, via BetMGM (as of Thursday, June 5)
Sabalenka -190
Gauff +160
Is there a live stream of the French Open women’s final?
The French Open women’s final between Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka can be streamed live on Max and Sling TV.
