Past Paris Failure Drove Gauff to Win

American lost 2022 final but says it aided 2025 comeback victory in trying conditions

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PARIS - Coco Gauff said a maiden French Open trophy was "one I really wanted" after securing the title with victory over Aryna Sabalenka on June 7.

The 21-year-old sealed a hard-fought 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 6-4 win over the world No. 1 in difficult, windy conditions at Roland Garros.

"I felt like this is one I really wanted, because I do think this was one of the tournaments that when I was younger that I felt I had the best shot of winning," said American star Gauff.

"So I just felt like if I went through my career and didn't get at least one of these, I would feel regrets and stuff.

"Today, playing Aryna, I was just, 'I just gotta go for it and try my best to get through the match."

It was a long-awaited success for Gauff, who was in tears after losing the 2022 French Open final to Iga Swiatek and had reached at least the quarter-finals in Paris in each of the previous four years.