French Open: Top Contenders Clash—Coco Gauff Faces Off Against Aryna Sabalenka in Women’s Final

Pakistan, June 7 -- According to Coco Gauff, the main distinction between herself as a player losing her initial Grand Slam final during last year’s French Open when she was 18 years old, and now competing for the championship this Saturday at 21 against top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka, lies in how differently she perceives the significance of these events today compared to before.

Three years ago at Roland-Garros, Gauff was making her debut on that sort of stage and with that sort of prize at stake. It felt like the outcome meant absolutely everything, a burden that was a lot at the time and made her nervous.

Currently, the second-ranked Gauff states that she realizes how insignificant the outcome from Saturday stands when considering the bigger picture.

The American stated following her victory over Lois Boisson, ranked 361st globally and competing as a wildcard at home, with scores of 6-1, 6-2 in the semis on Thursday, 'Everyone has much more significant challenges in their lives than failing to win a championship game.'

Gauff stated confidently, “There must be countless athletes who would do anything to claim victory or accept defeat in an important game, which makes me appreciate even more being in this situation.” Initially, she believed that losing would feel like the end of everything, but after realizing that life goes on regardless—demonstrated by the sunrise—the following morning made her understand that outcomes wouldn’t alter the continuity of daily existence. Another significant distinction lies in Gauff’s current status as a Grand Slam winner. Having triumphed at the 2023 US Open where her adversary was none other than Sabalenka herself, Gauff reminisced about those moments leading up to the decisive moment saying, “It felt almost surreal, like time paused during the crucial match point.”

Their head-to-head series is tied 5-5 entering the first No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup in a French Open women's final since Serena Williams beat Maria Sharapova in 2023. Sabalenka beat Gauff in their most recent meeting, which came at the Madrid Open in May on the type of red clay used at Roland-Garros. So Gauff is well aware of Sabalenka's many talents, which were on full display during a 7-6 (1), 4-6, 6-0 semifinal victory over three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek. "She can come up with some big shots and big winners pretty much at all areas of the court," Gauff said about the 27-year-old from Belarus. "She's a fighter, as well. She's going to stay in the match regardless of the scoreline."

Following a tough three-set battle against Swiatek, who had won 26 consecutive matches at the French Open, Sabalenka dominated towards the end of the match.

Even Sabalenka called the lopsided nature of that last set "shocking for me."

She did not commit any unforced errors, whereas Swiatek had 12 of them.

Her speed was incredibly quick," Swiatek stated. "It was difficult to engage in any prolonged rallies.

Last October, Sabalenka surpassed Swiatek to claim the top rank and has maintained her position since then. This year, she boasts an impressive record of 40 wins against just six losses, securing three tournament victories. Although her grand slam successes have been limited to hardcourt events—winning titles at both the 2023 and 2024 Australian Opens as well as the 2024 US Open—her efforts to enhance her performance on clay courts are evidently yielding positive outcomes. "On clay, I am capable of playing flat shots, incorporating spins, and defending effectively by moving back into position," noted Sabalenka. "These strategies suit my game particularly well on clay."

In reality, irrespective of the playing surface, Sabalenka seems to feel most at ease when she strikes the ball with maximum power.

Her risky playing style provides a stark contrast to Gauff, who has been trying to become more assertive with her forehand. However, Gauff typically excels when forcing her opponents to continuously hit shots since her speed, intuition, and defensive skills allow her to cover nearly every ball. “She’s likely to start off strong,” Gauff noted. “I need to anticipate this and try my best to respond accordingly.”