Coco Gauff is once again on the cusp of Grand Slam glory, and this time, she’s arriving at the final in Paris with a sharpened mindset and a wealth of experience behind her.
The American sensation powered past French wildcard Loïs Boisson in Thursday’s semifinal, securing a 6-1, 6-2 victory to set up a blockbuster French Open final against top seed Aryna Sabalenka.
The win not only marked Gauff‘s return to a Slam final for the first time since her 2023 US Open triumph but also reignited one of the most closely contested rivalries in women’s tennis.
The two stars are currently tied 5-5 in head-to-head encounters, making Saturday’s clash a pivotal moment in their budding tennis saga.
Gauff leans on perspective and growth ahead of title clash
Speaking after her semifinal win, Gauff offered a candid reflection on how her perspective has evolved since her early days on the tour. When asked about how she’s preparing mentally for the final, she spoke not just about the importance of the match but about its broader meaning in her life.
“I think just realizing how minuscule it is, like everybody’s dealing with way bigger things in life than losing a final,” Gauff said. “And also thinking, realizing that I don’t know how big the draw is, but many players wanted to be in this position… just knowing that making me realize how lucky and privileged I am to be in this position.”
Gauff‘s comments captured the emotional maturity that has come to define her as more than just a rising tennis star. She reflected on how she once viewed losing as a devastating outcome, but now recognizes that life moves on, no matter the result.
“At first I thought it would be the end of the world if I lost, and the sun still rose the next day,” she said. “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.”
Gauff vs Sabalenka: history, rivalry, and a shot at the top
The upcoming final will be the first French Open title match between the WTA’s top two players since 2013, when Serena Williams defeated Maria Sharapova. It’s also the first time since 2018 that the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds have met in a Slam final. That year, Caroline Wozniacki beat Simona Halep at the Australian Open.
For Gauff, the showdown is more than just another opportunity for silverware. It’s a chance to tilt her rivalry with Sabalenka in her favor, and to cement her place as one of the sport’s defining champions of this generation.
Reflecting on her 2023 US Open win over Sabalenka – where she came back from a set down to win her first major – Gauff described the experience as surreal. “Honestly, it was one of those matches that felt like an out of body experience,” she recalled.
“I think I hit like a back and cross passing shot, and I felt like that was like the momentum switch of the match. I just remember running a lot, and yeah, just fighting for every point,” she said.
As she returns to the Grand Slam stage where she once fell short in 2022, Gauff now stands poised not only to avenge past disappointment but also to continue writing her story – one filled with growth, resilience, and belief in her journey.
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