Key events
Tumaini Carayol’s report is here, after that epic final. It should go down as a classic. If the play didn’t always hit the heights, the drama certainly did.
Dodgy microphone means a tearful Coco does a Norman Collier, and it’s hard to hear her. She thanks her mum who is straining to hear. Fast talker, is our Coco. She thanks her family and team. “You guys are amazing” is the vibe. “The crowd really helped me. I am not sure what I did for that to happen.”
She thanks Tyler, the Creator, for an inspirational quote. And this may be the first time Norman Collier and Tyler have ever been mentioned together.
Up comes Coco Gauff, the champion, still just 21. Le vainquer, as the announcer has it. She gets plenty of time to wield the trophy, the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen, as the Star-Spangled Banner rings out.
Sabalenka, with tears in her eyes, is asked to say something. Is this necessary? She’s struggling. “This all hurts so much…to play such terrible tennis in these conditions. Coco, you were much better than me, you are a fighter. It was a great two weeks. [To Henin] You were such an inspiration to me. Thank you to my team. I am sorry for this terrible final…as always I will come back stronger.”
That was a tough watch.
The Gauff family are Facetiming home while Sabalenka is sat contemplating defeat. Wimbledon is just around the corner, and she can win there. Gauff is in tears as the trophy is brought out to begin the ceremonials. Justine Henin, she who John McEnroe said had the best backhand in the sport, is leading the gong-giving. She won twice at Roland Garros.
That was gutsy from Gauff, real champion quality in holding on when her rival threatened to overpower her. The player with the more complete game won out. Sabalenka lost control of her emotions once she realised she had to throw everything at an opponent who would not lie down to the barrage.
That’s her second Grand Slam, and the two players embraced, sportingly. Both of them went through so much in that game. Gauff never lost her way despite losing the first, and she kept her cool, too.
Coco Gauff wins the French Open!
Gauff* 6-7 6-2 6-4 Sabalenka
Sabalenka fooled by the slower ball of a first serve – 15-0. Sabalenka charges forward for 15-15. Huge service return, and it’s 15-30. Huge serve for 30-30. Coco surges on to a loose forehand and top-spins it for Championship Point. Sabalenka saves it with an amazing shot, right off the baseline. Incroyable! Then, Sabalenka is the quickest around the court and has a break point! Gauff misses the first serve. Sabalenka gambles on the second serve. And misses! Deuce. Gauff skids a serve, and Sabalenka hands over match point. Then, just as it seems Gauff has made a mess of a rally the ball drops in and Sabalenka goes for it one last time and misses….Gauff is the champion
Gauff 6-7 6-2 5-4 Sabalenka*
This is sudden death for Sabalenka. She’s one of the game’s gamblers. And so will go for power. At 30-15 she lacerates the ball home. That’s been lacking for too long. It’s 40-15, as with nothing to lose she finally seems relaxed. Gauff will make her work after a fine service return. First serve is netted. The second allows Gauff into the rally, and Gauff is two points from the title at deuce. Some power hitting means Sabalenka can save herself. She can. Gauff will be asked to serve for the championship.
Gauff* 6-7 6-2 5-3 Sabalenka
Can Gauff serve this out? There’s surely more drama to come. To 30-15 she gets, and then 40-15. It’s within sight. Sabalenka must rediscover her serve or the trophy is heading across the Atlantic.
Gauff 6-7 6-2 4-3 Sabalenka*
Levels, you devils, and this is a classic going into high drama. Only for Sabalenka to malfunction – and be broken back. A break to love! Gauff is back in charge. So determined.
Sabalenka breaks back!
Gauff* 6-7 6-2 3-3 Sabalenka
Pressure back on Gauff’s serve now. Sabalenka lands a break point, and the match is back in the balance.
Gauff 6-7 6-2 3-2 Sabalenka*
Oh dear, 15-30, panic beginning to set in? The serve has been unreliable at best. It bails her out for 30-30. Gauff takes control of a rally that has Sabalenka sprawling desperately and then swings a winner to claim a break point. More deep breaths from Sabalenka, and a huge serve down the central line. She is then tempted into a drop, and pays the price. Another break point to Gauff but no answer to the exocet missiles launched by her opponent. Sabalenka holds but is battling herself just as much as her opponent.
Gauff* 6-7 6-2 3-1 Sabalenka
Now, can Coco hold? Some huge hitting round the court, and she’s the quicker, more alert player. Sabalenka is trying to slow down her adrenaline. Big, deep breaths. 30-15, then 40-15 as Sabalenka clanks her return. That will bring about a change of racquet. It’s a double fault – Gauff’s second of the game – but a faded slice means Sabalenka can only net. The game is within the grasp of the American.
Gauff breaks Sabalenka in third set!
Gauff 6-7 6-2 2-1 Sabalenka*
Gauff’s speed pulls Sabalenka into an error, and she overhits a cross-court shot. It’s 30-30, and then suddenly break point, and a potential path to victory for Gauff. The big service bomb means it will have to be second serve….double fault and Sabalenka’s coaches are bearing the brunt.
Gauff* 6-7 6-2 1-1 Sabalenka
Gauff is serving well now. Thar augurs well. She holds to love, despite Sabalenka’s claim she had the ball in. The ump steps from her chair to prove she is wrong.
Gauff 6-7 6-2 0-1 Sabalenka*
Perhaps this is where Sabalenka recover her focus. Though she is overly risky when missing a shot at the net for 30-15. But she holds.
Gauff takes the second set!
Gauff* 6-7 6-2 Sabalenka
Gauff is determined to see this out. She’s the player in the ascendancy here, and she serves out to love, and there will be a third and deciding set.
Gauff 6-7 5-2 Sabalenka*
Sabalenka screams out as she slips to 0-30 down. More rage as three break points are offered up. The first is handed over, and Gauff can serve out the set.
Gauff* 6-7 4-2 Sabalenka
Gauff’s winner down the line shows she is still full of concentration. Her opponent, less so. The American is gutsy, more consistent, and yet Sabalenka is probably more dangerous. This can oscillate between brilliance and farce. The latter is ruling now. Though it is Gauff who makes a mess of a drop shot. And suddenly, there’s a break point. That’s how this match rolls. Still, some good court management takes her to advantage at deuce. Before a dolly drop of a failed backhand, and it’s a break point Sabalenka contrives to make a mess of. Now an error from Gauff. Untimely if a third set is to come. Sabalenka claims a break back.
Gauff 6-7 4-1 *Sabalenka
Sabalenka seems to have been discombobulated by winning the first set. She offers up three cheap break points. And goes 1-4 down. Are we looking to a decider already?
Gauff* 6-7 3-1 Sabalenka
Gauff made to work for her hold. This set far less frantic than its predecessor. Sabalenka’s errors are still handing Gauff a way back into this match.
Gauff 6-7 2-1 Sabalenka*
Sabalenka unleashes a big serve for 40-15. Are they both going to hold serve? Miracles never cease. She does, as Gauff nets. Incroyable.
Gauff* 6-7 2-0 Sabalenka
The comeback trail begins. Gauff gets to 40-0, and holds! There’s a novelty!
Gauff breaks Sabalenka!
Gauff 6-7 1-0 Sabalenka*
After all that drama, we resume, and know both players can take chunks out of the other’s serve. Gauff is soon enough at 15-30, and deuce. Sabalenka looks annoyed with her service game, and is aghast when Gauff reads her drop shot at game point. More annoyance when she is rushed into a baseline error. Gauff breaks! Neither player can hold serve.
Sabalenka takes the first set tie-breaker!
Gauff takes a 2-0 lead, and then 3-0. She’s the player struggling the least with her psyche. She’s reading the conditions better, and staying in the points. Still, 1-3 is won by an acute angle. Then a huge serve for 4-1. Gauff has this in her hands. But Sabalenka will keep gambling on her power. She serves at 2-4 down. And is annoyed when what looks an ace goes out. 3-4 following a drop shot. Then Gauff’s court speed takes it to 5-3. Two points from the set, having saved set points. Sabalenka crunches the ball past and it’s back on serve. A clubbing backhand and it’s 5-5. This match is so so tight. An epic rally sees Sabalenka come to the net and claim set point on the Gauff serve. Incredible. And Sabalenka – somehow – and finally, wins it. That was 77 minutes of agony for her but she got it done.
First set goes to a tie-break!
Gauff 6-6 Sabalenka*
More net play takes it to 15-0, 15-15 follows as Sabalenka goes long. Then she scuffs a backhand. 15-30. And another break chance for Gauff. It’s a tie-breaker!
Photograph: Alain Jocard/AFP/Getty Images
Another Sabalenka break!
Gauff* 5-6 Sabalenka
Both players struggling with their serve. But Gauff pulls off a win in a battle of spin to level at 30-30. A break to Sabalenka again but she misses her service return, and it’s 40-40. So little margin between them. Sabalenka wins the spin battle with a sliced drop. Coco can only skid in vain. Another break. Sabalenka sees it out by taking control of the rally, and edges her way to serving out set.
Easier said than done?
Another Gauff break!
Gauff 5-5 Sabalenka*
Sabalenka cries to the grey skies after a miss for 15-15. Gauff cries out now after shanking a service return she could have gobbled right up. Then comes a double. Sabalenka looks accusingly at her coaches. It’s not their fault. Still, she recovers her cool and lands a set point. Goes for a bomb of a serve to take it. Then doubles up to surrender it. That serve is still wonky, though much better than before. Gauff can’t return a secodn serve and Sabalenka goes again. She has control of a rally, and yet nets a backhand. And then misses a gettable – for her – winner. Gauff calls it out, and has a break point. But misses on her backhand! This is crazy stuff.
The Sabalenka serve from that end is not working. How about second serve? The wind is putting her off. And tempts her into a failed drop shot when Gauff did so well to keep the ball in. Gauff has another break. And one saved by a big serve. Another backhand error and back to a break point. Gauff can only direct a serve into Sabalenka’s path. Back to deuce. And then – somehow – Sabalenka missed an overhead. Agonising. Gauff shows such staying power in these points. But – again – huge serve, and clatter. Huge save. Next, Sabalenka crumps one at the back of the court – fifth break point. Finally, finally, Gauff claims it. This was supposed to be over 25 minutes ago.
Sabalenka breaks back!
Gauff* 4-5 Sabalenka
An epic game, an epic set, and Gauff looks in the ascendancy. Briefly. A whipped forehand winner for 15-0. It’s 15-15 but Gauff’s court speed is making Sabalenka work hard. No let-up, both players asking the other to play their shots, move the dial. Sabalenka has a break, just when it seemed Gauff had the set in her grasp it’s her opponent serving for the set. This has been epic.
Gauff breaks back again!
Gauff 4-4 Sabalenka*
Sabalenka is looking to her coaches as she drops to 0-30. All that impetus has gone. The serve is wobbling. The noise is getting louder. An attempted backhand pass fails and it’s 0-40. What a turnaround, 12 points in succession to Gauff. The rot is stopped there with two points, the second thrashed home. The third hit yet harder. Both players on the comeback trail. Gauff continues to gamble and lands another break point. That’s saved by a skidding serve, and then Gauff fumbles a return, and it’s advantage Sabalenka. Huge rally follows and Sabalenka misses her attempted winner – that’s to the approval of Spike Lee. Spike yet happier as Sabalenka misreads the next Gauff shot? She’s gotta have it? Yes, Sabalenka misses.
Gauff* 3-4 Sabalenka
Gauff is coming to the boil, and loops a passing shot to set the crowd alight. She’s at 40-0, and Sabalenka is the one struggling. Gauff holds to love and whatever happens in this set, it feels like this is now a battle of equals.
Gauff breaks back!
Gauff 2-4 Sabalenka*
Sabalenka is sizzling, and Gauff makes a mess of an easy drop. Then blams a backhand out of play. She’s struggling here. Struggling badly. But a double fault edges her into the game. A sliced drop takes it back to 40-30, Sabalenka unable to skid to the ball. She chooses to serve it out, with a series of howitzers launched as the wind whistles. Another double fault and deuce. Service malfunction? Gauff reads a drop for a break point and way back into the set. That’s taken up, and Sabalenka suddenly lost her step.
Another Sabalenka break!
Gauff* 1-4 Sabalenka
Awesome passing shot from Sabalenka beats Gauff, then the American is forced into an error. Danger here at 0-30. More danger at 0-40. Uh oh. Sabalenka’s first miss saves the first break point. Big serve down the middle saves the second. Then some serve and volley saves the third. Gauff is in the contest now. A skidder of a serve, and that’s game point. But Gauff nets. Big return is on Gauff’s toes and another break point results. Sabalenka clatters a second serve where it cannot be reached. Gauff in big trouble here.
Gauff 1-3 Sabalenka*
Big cheers as Gauff wins the first point. They want to see a long match. Sabalenka wants this done with a minimum of fuss. The serving is fierce, as is the forehand. This is the stuff that saw off Swiatek. But Gauff is not retreating, and forces and error for 30-30. No matter, a bomb of serve flies through for an ace. A short rally sees Gauff net. Sabalenka backs up her break.
Sabalenka lands a break!
Gauff* 1-2 Sabalenka
The first double fault hands Sabalenka a 0-30 lead, then a huge, clatter lands her three break points. The radar is working just fine, and she sees out the break with a drop shot and high-end net work. That’s worrying for Gauff.
Gauff 1-1 Sabalenka*
Huge second serve delivers an ace. Then a bullying backhand races her to 30-0. It’s the Belarussian hitting the truer, and Gauff’s speed will be required for the battle ahead. 40-0 becomes game. Huge serving, a far more comfortable hold.
We’re underway, and it’s Gauff serving first.
Gauff* 1-0 Sabalenka
The first point goes to the American. The roof is open, and the second point sees Gauff balloon her shot. She then feels the Sabalenka pressure to go 15-30 down. Big serve levels it. Sabalenka chases the second serve but Gauff lands the win for 40-30. And serves out. A good hold.
Chris Evert, who won this tournament seven times, has tipped Coco Gauff for the title. Chrissie won 20 Grand Slams overall. Incredible. And yet played second fiddle to Martina Navratilova. Those were the days of No 1 v No 2. And so is this.
The photo call is done and so are the handshakes, so it’s time for the knock-up.
The players take to the stairs and the corridor to the Philippe Chatrier court, with Coco Gauff wired for sound and clad in that leather jacket. Sabalenka hasn’t bothered with a jacket. She’s all business. But also has headphones on. What music do they listen to? Surely M-People’s Search For The Hero is a bit outdated now.
Jeremy Boyce gets in touch: “I’m looking forward to watching (terrestrial TV, I live in France…) the weekend’s finals, starting today with what appears to be two very level-headed, likeable, and talented young women. No surprise they are No 1 and 2 in the World Rankings, they are hard working and tantrum-free, concentrating on winning the points/games/sets/matches rather than the arguments. And there will be a new name on the Women’s honours board, always a good thing.
“Last night (Sinner-Djokovic) the French commentators pointed out that it’s 60 years or something since the Womens and Mens finals were contested by the respective 1s and 2s, as is the case this year. Let’s hope they’ll spoil us with quality tennis and great matches.”
Eric Cantona is among the crowd, as is Andre Agassi. The wind is whipping up. How crucial could that be?
The opening ceremony is taking place, all a bit Busby Berkeley overheads. Lots of swirling there, too, accompanied by strings. One of the violinists is a dead ringer for Ringo Starr in his Photograph/It Don’t Come Easy years.
The roof is open and the wind is blowing in, which adds a variable. It could get a bit swirly.
Via the BBC, plucky Brit news:
Teenager Hannah Klugman was unable to become the first Briton in almost 50 years to win a French Open juniors title after losing in the girls’ singles final.
The 16-year-old, competing in her first junior Grand Slam singles final, was beaten 6-2 6-0 by Austria’s Lilli Tagger.
Klugman, ranked 13th in the world junior rankings, was aiming to emulate Britain’s Michelle Tyler, who won the French Open girls’ title in 1976.
junior champion Lilli Tagger. Photograph: Robert Prange/Getty Images
Tickets for today’s showpiece match range from 120 to 310 euros (£100 to £260). That seems a lot, but then again that’s less than Oasis.
We’re not far off the players walking out in Paris where it’s 19 degrees c, and relatively dry.
Here’s that 2023 meeting between the pair.
Gauff’s opponent is the same player she beat at Flushing Meadows in 2023 to win her first Slam, Sabalenka. What’s she thinking?
I have to go out there on Saturday and I have to fight and I have to bring my best tennis, and I have to work for that title. Yeah, I’m ready. I’m ready to go out and I’m ready to fight. I’m ready to do everything it’s going to take to get the win.
How was Coco Gauff feeling on the eve of the final? Memories of 2022.
My first final here I was super nervous, and I kind of wrote myself off before the match even happened. Obviously here I have a lot more confidence just from playing a grand slam final before and doing well in one.
I think going into Saturday I’ll just give it my best shot and try to be as calm and relaxed as possible. Whatever happens, happens. I think just realising how minuscule it is, everybody is dealing with way bigger things in life than losing a final. And realising however many players wanted to be in this position.
“I’m sure there are hundreds of players who would kill to win or lose a final, so just knowing that makes me realise how lucky and privileged I am to be in this position. At first I thought it would be the end of the world if I lost, but you know, the sun still rose the next day. So knowing, regardless of the result, the sun will still rise.
Especially being in a city like Paris, I was walking around the next day, and no one knew that I lost, and no one cared. I was just realising that how big the moment seems in our lives is not as big in the grand scheme of things.
How did they get here?
Gauff beat home darling Boisson
Sabalenka torched the previous queen of these clay courts.
Tumaini Carayol is our man in Paris, and here’s his preview of the women’s final.
This tournament places Gauff at an interesting intersection. She has already enjoyed her first breakthrough, winning her first major title at the 2023 US Open and then backing it up by triumphing at the WTA Finals in Riyadh last year. At a time when two players – Sabalenka and Swiatek – have distanced themselves from the field by consistently racking up big titles on the biggest stages, the next question for Gauff is whether she is ready and capable of taking another leap forward and consistently competing for every grand slam.
Preamble
The stage is set for the big-hitters in a year where the Roland Garros courts seem to have served such players well. Coco Gauff seeks her second Grand Slam on the scene of her 2022 defeat to Iga Świątek. Aryna Sabalenka seeks her fourth Grand Slam in her first ever final in Paris. A new name will be written on the trophy by the end of the affair. It’s the world No 1 taking on America’s No 1, and world No 2. In short, the two best players in the game at the moment.
We begin at 2pm UK time, 3pm Paris time, 7pm ET, 4pm Belarus time. Join me.
