After two thrilling weeks at Roland Garros, the women’s final is locked in: American star Coco Gauff will face Belarusian powerhouse Aryna Sabalenka. Both players are chasing their first French Open crown. It’s Sabalenka’s maiden final in Paris, while Gauff returns after finishing runner-up in 2022.
Their head-to-head record is evenly split at 5-5, but Sabalenka has the momentum, having defeated Gauff in the Madrid Open final just last month. With both players shining on clay this season, Saturday promises a blockbuster match.
Massive prize money awaits the champion
Roland Garros 2025 has set a new prize money record: the tournament will distribute 56,352,000 (around $61.2 million), marking a 5.1% increase from last year. This year’s women’s singles champion will take home 2,550,000 ($2,770,000), up 6.25% from 2024.
The runner-up won’t walk away empty-handed either-she’ll earn 1,275,000 ($1,385,000). These numbers highlight the tournament’s growing financial commitment to top-level tennis.
More money for early rounds and inclusive growth
The prize increases aren’t limited to the final. First-round losers in the main draw now receive 78,000 ($85,000), a 6.85% boost. Overall singles prize money is up 6.37% compared to last year, with the first three rounds seeing the most notable jumps-rising between 6.33% and 6.85%.
Doubles events maintain their prize levels across men’s, women’s, and mixed categories. Meanwhile, wheelchair and quad competitions get a 3% increase, bringing their total prize pool to 890,000. Roland Garros is ensuring every athlete gets a fair slice of the pie.
Two different roads to the final
Sabalenka stunned the tennis world by ending Iga Swiatek’s reign-beating the three-time defending champion in the semifinals. It’s her first-ever Roland Garros final appearance. Gauff, the current world No. 2, cruised past Lois Boisson in straight sets to reach her second final in Paris.
This is the first French Open final between the top two ranked players since Serena Williams faced Maria Sharapova in 2013. The stakes couldn’t be higher.
Season highlights set the stage
Gauff’s 2025 season has been a rollercoaster. She reached the Australian Open quarterfinals but suffered early exits in Doha and Dubai. However, she bounced back on clay, reaching the finals in both Madrid and Rome. At Roland Garros, she’s dropped just one set so far, including a dramatic comeback against Madison Keys.
Sabalenka, on the other hand, is enjoying the best form of her career. Despite losing the Australian Open final, she won titles in Miami and Madrid-where she defeated Gauff for the crown. Her win over Swiatek in Paris sent a strong message to the field.
Sabalenka: “This trophy would mean everything”
After her semifinal win, Sabalenka opened up in her post-match press conference:
“It’s going to mean everything to me and my team. Almost my whole life I’ve been told clay wasn’t my thing, and I had no confidence on this surface. But over the past few years, we’ve developed my game so much. Now, I actually enjoy playing on clay. If I’m able to get this trophy, it’s going to mean the world to us.”
The stage is set. Two of the game’s biggest stars will battle for the most prestigious clay-court title in the world. Gauff seeks redemption after her 2022 loss. Sabalenka aims to rewrite her clay-court narrative. One thing is certain: this French Open final will be unforgettable.
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