Paris (AP) – The standout distinction Coco Gauff sees among players who faced her in her first Grand Slam final at 18 years old during the French Open in 2022 and now as she prepares to play for the trophy again this Saturday, the 21st, against No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, is her perspective on the significance of this moment.
Three years ago, at the Roland Garros, Gauff made her debut on such a prestigious stage, putting immense pressure on herself. The outcome was everything, and the stress of the moment left her feeling anxious.
Now, as Gauff, ranked No. 2, she expresses her understanding of “how significant” the outcome on Saturday is in the grander scheme of her career.
“Everyone faces much larger challenges in life than losing a final,” the American remarked after defeating 361-ranked French wildcard entry Loïs Boisson with a score of 6-1 and 6-2 in Thursday’s semi-finals.
“I realize that countless players would give anything to either win or lose a final, so I know how fortunate and privileged I am to be in this situation,” Gauff stated. “Initially, I felt that a loss would mean the end of the world. But, as it turns out, the sun still rises the next day… Regardless of the result, the sun rises.”
There’s another key difference. Today’s Gauff is a Grand Slam champion, having clinched the US Open 2023; her opponent in that final was Sabalenka.
“I recall a bit of that feeling,” Gauff shared, “like holding my breath at the match point.”
Their head-to-head record stands at 5-5 in the history of women’s Open finals in France, since Serena Williams triumphed over Maria Sharapova in 2023.
Sabalenka defeated Gauff in their latest encounter at the Madrid Open on the type of red clay used at Roland-Garros in May. Gauff is well aware of Sabalenka’s many skills, which previously earned her the title from 3-time defending champion Iga Swiatek.
“She can execute massive shots and winners from anywhere on the court,” Gauff noted about the 27-year-old Belarusian. “She’s a fighter too. No matter the score, she’ll remain in the match.”
After narrowly losing in the third set against Swiatek, Sabalenka showcased her dominance, winning 26 consecutive points at the French Open – an impressive feat.
Even Sabalenka identified the overwhelming nature of that final set as “shocking to me.”
She made no unforced errors, while Swiatek had 12.
“Her pace was extremely fast,” Swiatek commented. “It was challenging to engage in the rallies.”
Sabalenka claimed the No. 1 ranking from Swiatek last October and has maintained it. She holds a 40-6 record this season, with three titles, all secured on hard court: the Australian Open in 2023 and 2024, and the US Open in 2024. Her efforts to enhance her clay game are clearly paying off.
“I can play flat, utilize spins, and adopt a defensive style,” Sabalenka explained. “That’s what suits me best on clay.”
The reality is, regardless of the surface, Sabalenka appears most comfortable when she hits the ball at maximum force.
Her high-risk approach contrasts with Gauff’s style. Gauff aims to be more aggressive with her forehand but excels when responding to her opponent’s shots, leveraging speed, instinct, and defense.
“She’s going to come out strong,” Gauff anticipated. “I have to be prepared and do my best to counter her.”
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Howard Fendrich has covered tennis for the Associated Press since 2002. Discover more about his work here. https://apnews.com/author/howard-fendrich. Explore more AP tennis coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
Source: apnews.com