Coco Gauff secured her second grand slam title on Saturday by defeating world number one Aryna Sabalenka 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4 in the French Open final. The 21-year-old American spoke of her desire to offer a moment of positivity for her supporters amid a challenging political climate in the United States.
“Obviously there’s a lot going on in our country right now,” Gauff said after the match. “Just to be able to be a representation of people that look like me in America who maybe don’t feel as supported during this time period … being that reflection of hope and light for those people.” She added that her mother had urged her to win the tournament to give people something to smile about, following the recent election period.
Gauff reflected on her first grand slam final in 2022, where she lost to Iga Swiatek while struggling with anxiety and doubt. “I was crying before the match and so nervous, and literally couldn’t breathe,” she recalled. “But now I just felt really ready today.” She also remembered watching the Polish national anthem being played for Swiatek, which inspired her to cherish the moment when the American anthem was played for her on Saturday.
Sabalenka, who lost her third grand slam final in six attempts, was visibly frustrated with the windy conditions and Gauff’s unorthodox shots. “Honestly sometimes it felt like she was hitting the ball from the frame, and somehow magically the ball lands in the court,” she said. The Belarusian also claimed that Swiatek, whom she defeated in the semi-finals, would have beaten Gauff on the day.
When asked about her plans to recover, Sabalenka replied, “I already have a flight booked to Mykonos and alcohol, sugar. I just need a couple of days to completely forget about this crazy world.” She described the match as a “joke” but refrained from swearing during the press conference.
