Coco Gauff Sets Stage for Showdown With Sabalenka After Commanding French Open SF Win
Coco Gauff’s clay-court confidence is no longer a secret—it’s a statement. Her 2022 declaration, “I love clay, I have good results on clay all the time,” echoes even louder in 2025, as she storms into her third straight final on the surface. The 21-year-old American now prepares for her biggest test yet: a French Open title clash against top seed Aryna Sabalenka on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
Gauff’s semifinal performance was nothing short of dominant. She overwhelmed French wildcard Loïs Boisson 6-1, 6-2, displaying both poise and power. It marks her second appearance in the Roland-Garros final and further establishes her legacy as a rising clay-court force.
<strong>Gauff Reflects on a Turning Point</strong>
In her post-match interview, Gauff revisited her 2023 US Open final triumph over Sabalenka—a match that not only secured her first Grand Slam title but also provided a deeply personal lesson in belief and composure. “It felt like an out-of-body experience,” she recalled. “I wasn’t that nervous. I just felt like I was going to win, and you don’t always get that feeling.”
Her comeback in that match—losing the first set 2-6 before turning it around 6-3, 6-2—remains a defining moment. “I remember hitting a backhand cross-pass shot and thinking that was the momentum shift,” she said. “After that, I was just fighting for every point.”
<strong>Sabalenka Rematch and Rivalry</strong>
Now tied 5-5 in their head-to-head battles, Gauff faces Sabalenka once more, this time in a rematch of their Madrid final, where the Belarusian emerged victorious. But with the Coupe Suzanne-Lenglen on the line, the stakes are even higher—and so is Gauff’s motivation.
Sabalenka enters the final after an incredible performance of her own, having eliminated defending champion Iga Swiatek. Her powerful baseline game and aggressive mindset pose a formidable challenge, but Gauff’s tactical growth and clay-court resilience suggest she’s more than ready.
<strong>Respect for Boisson and the Crowd</strong>
Before looking ahead, Gauff made sure to praise her semifinal opponent, Loïs Boisson. The 22-year-old became the first wildcard to reach a French Open semi-final, toppling seeded giants like Jessica Pegula and Mirra Andreeva. Though clearly outmatched in the semifinal, Boisson won admiration from fans and players alike.
“She’s an incredible player,” Gauff said. “I’m sure we’ll have more battles in the future.” Gauff also addressed the challenge of facing a French player on home soil. “I was mentally prepared that it was going to be 99% for her,” she explained, “so I just tried to block it out.”
<strong>What’s Next</strong>
With her Paris journey reaching its peak, Coco Gauff steps onto the clay with history in reach. A win would make her the first American woman to win the French Open since Serena Williams in 2015—and solidify her status as the present and future of women’s tennis.
The final isn’t just about titles. It’s about legacy, redemption, and rewriting narratives. Coco Gauff has already proven she can win on the biggest stage. Now, she looks to do it again—this time, in the heart of Paris.