New Delhi: Aryna Sabalenka’s dream of capturing her first French Open crown turned into a heartbreaking nightmare on Saturday night, as a determined Coco Gauff dashed her hopes in a dramatic women’s singles final. The World No.1, who had looked poised to clinch the trophy after taking the first set crumbled in the face of Gauff’s resilience and power on the iconic clay of Roland Garros.
Sabalenka had started the match with confidence, showcasing the same relentless aggression that had carried her to the final. She edged a tense opening set, clinching it in a nail-biting tiebreak but the momentum quickly shifted in Gauff’s favour as the American star roared back in the second set. Gauff’s powerful groundstrokes and composed shot selection saw her dominate 6-2, leaving Sabalenka scrambling for answers.
#RolandGarros https://t.co/dj4Gef9fKH pic.twitter.com/4kDU6vOo2b
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 7, 2025
Emotional on Court Philippe-Chatrier
Visibly upset, Sabalenka struggled to hold back tears during the post-match presentation. Clutching the runner-up trophy, she addressed the crowd and her team with raw honesty. “Honestly guys, this one hurts so much. Especially after such a tough two weeks- playing great tennis, and then in these terrible conditions, to show such terrible tennis in the final, it really hurts,” she said, her voice quivering. “But it’s OK.”
“Honestly guys this all hurts so much”
Aryna Sabalenka tries to fight off the tears after defeat to Coco Gauff in the Roland-Garros final 🥹
She’ll be back stronger 💪#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/pTfOv3mBRG
— TNT Sports (@tntsports) June 7, 2025
She added, “Anyway, Coco, congrats. In these tough conditions, you were the better player than me. Well done on a great two weeks. Congrats on the second Slam. You’re a fighter, a hard worker. Congrats to you and your team.”
Gauff proves too strong
While Sabalenka searched for solutions, Gauff played with maturity and confidence beyond her years. After levelling the match with a commanding second set, she carried the momentum into the decider. Sabalenka managed to level the score at 3-3 but couldn’t hold off Gauff’s relentless assault. The American broke back decisively and closed out the match 6-4, sealing her second Grand Slam title and first at Roland Garros. Gauff collapsed to the clay in tears of joy, celebrating her moment of glory.
Looking ahead
For Sabalenka, the loss is a bitter pill to swallow, especially after a tournament that had showcased her incredible form but as she wiped away her tears it was clear she remained determined to learn and grow from the experience. With her undeniable talent and fighting spirit, she will no doubt be back and will definitely chase that elusive French Open crown in the future.
Aryna Sabalenka’s French Open dream ends in heartbreak as she loses 7-6, 2-6, 4-6 to Coco Gauff in the women’s singles final. Tennis Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
