Coco Gauff of the United States won the French Open Women’s singles title, beating World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in the final in Paris on Saturday. The 21-year-old recovered from losing a dramatic 78-minute first set on a tiebreak to stun the World No.1 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4 in a gripping three-set women’s final on Court Philippe-Chatrier that lasted two hours and 38 minutes, adding a first Roland-Garros title to her US Open success from 2023.
The world No.2 becomes the first American to win the Roland Garros singles title since Serena Williams in 2015, and the youngest American since Serena Williams in 2002.
Sabalenka started the match on a rousing note with a double break for a 4-1 lead in the first set. But Gauff came back with Sabalenka leading 4-1, 40-0 to claw her way back into this first set to level at 4-4. Sabalenka, the world No.1, threw in two double faults from 40-0 in that sixth game and lost her radar after that as errors started creeping into her game.
Despite looking frustrated by the minute, Sabalenka broke again to go up 5-4 and then had two set points during a 13-minute service game, but still couldn’t finish off the set. Gauff hangs tough and somehow breaks again by playing the slightly safer tennis to make it 5-5. They hold serve and take the set into a tie-breaker
However, Sabalenka does not lose her nerve and shows her mental strength to survive a tense tiebreak 7-5.
Gauff led 4-1 and 5-3 in the shootout before Sabalenka kicked into gear, producing two superb points from 5-5 to finally finish off the opener with a short volley on her third set point.
But Gauff came back strongly to win the second set, showing her mental strength as she quickly moved on from the disappointment of blowing a 5-3 lead in the breaker to dominate the early stages of the second set.
The American broke Sabalenka’s serve in the first game and built on that to engineer a 4-1 double break lead. She missed a game-point chance to hold for 5-1 and dropped serve again, but in the end claimed the second set 6-2, sweeping through the remainder of the set to win it in 32 minutes and level the match.
The decider was well fought too, as Gauff broke in the third game for a 2-1 lead, the game ending with a perfect Sabalenka tweener followed by a winning forehand volley from Gauff. But Sabalenka was not done yet, she maintained calm and regained her rhythm, fighting back from 1-3 down to scramble back to 3-3.
But Gauff could not be denied this time, and she won the set 6-4 to claim her first French Open title, dropping to the court in celebration and shedding tears of joy.
Sinner sinks Djokovic to set up final clash
Paris, Jun 7 (IANS): World No. 1 Jannik Sinner notched a 6-4, 7-5, 7-6(3) triumph against three-time champion Novak Djokovic in a heavyweight semifinal clash at the French Open on Friday, and will meet defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the final.
Djokovic, the men’s record 24-time Grand Slam champion, was overwhelmed by Sinner’s power and precision from the baseline and on serve on Court Philippe-Chatrier, reports Xinhua. Sinner became only the second Italian man to reach the final at Roland-Garros after Adriano Panatta, the 1976 champion.
“It was such a special occasion for me, playing against Novak in the semifinal of a Grand Slam,” said Sinner.
“It’s just amazing, and I had to step up and play the best tennis I could. I’m very happy how I handled the situation, but this shows again what a role model he is for all of us and especially for us young players.”
“What he is doing is incredible and I wish him only the best for the rest of the season. I think we are all very lucky to see him playing such high-level tennis, it’s amazing.”
In the first set, Sinner performed more steadily, taking the opening set 6-4 with a break in the fifth game. Djokovic started stronger in the second, but it was Sinner who broke first for a 5-3 lead. Djokovic held serve in the ninth game and then broke Sinner’s serve in the 10th game while serving for the set, leveling the score at 5-5. Sinner stayed composed and secured another break, eventually taking the second set 7-5.
Both players delivered top-level tennis in the third set, which ultimately went into a tense tiebreak. Sinner proved to be more clutch in the decisive moments, winning the tiebreak 7-3.
In his post-match press conference, 38-year-old Djokovic reflected on the uncertainty of his future following the loss. “This could have been the last match ever I played here, so I don’t know. That’s why I was a bit more emotional even in the end,” said Djokovic.
“If this was the farewell match of the Roland Garros for me in my career, it was a wonderful one in terms of the atmosphere and what I got from the crowd.”
“Do I wish to play more? Yes, I do. But will I be able to play in 12 months’ time here again? I don’t know. That’s all I can say for the moment,” he added.
Earlier in the other semifinal, Alcaraz led 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-0, 2-0 against Lorenzo Musetti when the eighth-seeded Italian retired with a leg injury.
Sinner, who has yet to lose a set in the tournament, is now looking to avenge his loss to Alcaraz in last year’s semifinal, when he was defeated in five sets.
Alcaraz has won his last four matches against Sinner, including the Italian Open final in May when Sinner returned from a three-month doping ban.
“Sunday is going to be very difficult, I know my head-to-head lately doesn’t look great against Carlos but let’s see what I can do,” said Sinner.