Tears of pain to tears of joy - Gauff's journey to glory

Three years ago, the image of a distraught Coco Gauff crying under a towel was one of the rawest moments from a one-sided French Open women's final.

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Still a teenager, Gauff cut a lonely figure as she sobbed on her chair in the aftermath of a brutal straight-set defeat by Poland's Iga Swiatek.

Gauff vowed to come back stronger - and she has.

Winning the maiden Grand Slam trophy of her career at the 2023 US Open to fulfil her prodigious talent was the first step.

And in Paris, the American world number two demonstrated her gritty mindset once again, fighting back from a set down to beat world number one Aryna Sabalenka and claim the Roland Garros title.

Reflecting on her 2022 defeat, Gauff, 21, said: "It was a tough time.

"I was doubting myself, wondering if I would ever be able to circumnavigate it, especially my mentality going into that match.

"I was crying before that final and I was so nervous. I was like, if I can't handle this, how am I going to handle it again?

"I just felt really ready today."

'I will win the 2025 French Open' - handwritten note brings extra belief

Gauff is one of the few players who truly transcends the sport.

Film director Spike Lee flew over from New York to sit courtside for the final, while Gauff namechecked rapper Tyler, The Creator and Olympic sprinter Gabby Thomas for inspiring her to victory.

Moments after she beat Sabalenka, Gauff pulled a scrap of paper from her bag.

On it, she had written 'I will win the 2025 French Open' as many times as she could fit on a page in her notebook.