Coco Gauff has etched her name into tennis history, capturing her first French Open singles title and her second career Grand Slam by defeating world number one Aryna Sabalenka in a thrilling and emotionally charged final. The 21-year-old American displayed remarkable resilience, fighting back from a set down to secure a 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 6-4 victory on the clay courts of Roland Garros. This triumph not only marks a significant milestone for Gauff but also makes her the first American to win the coveted Suzanne-Lenglen Cup since Serena Williams in 2015, and the youngest American to do so since Williams in 2002.

The final, played in challenging windy conditions on Court Philippe-Chatrier, was a rollercoaster from the outset. Aryna Sabalenka started with ferocious power and precision, quickly establishing a double break and leading 4-1, even reaching 40-0 on her serve for a potential 5-1 advantage. However, the Belarusian's serve began to falter in the stiff breeze, leading to a string of double faults and unforced errors. Gauff capitalized on these openings, fighting back to level the set. A remarkable five-game stretch saw neither player able to hold serve, indicative of the turbulent conditions and the see-saw nature of the contest. The first set, lasting a grueling 77 minutes, culminated in a tense tiebreak. Despite Gauff taking an early lead, Sabalenka showcased her tenacity, battling back from 3-0 down to clinch the tiebreak 7-5, drawing first blood in the championship match. Sabalenka committed 32 unforced errors in the opening set alone, a sign of the struggles to come.

Despite the setback of losing the hard-fought first set, Coco Gauff did not let her resolve waver. Instead, she elevated her game in the second set, turning the tide decisively. The American broke Sabalenka's serve twice to race to a commanding 4-1 lead. While Sabalenka managed to break back to make it 4-2, Gauff immediately responded with another break of her own, a game that saw Sabalenka commit her 50th unforced error of the match. Gauff then confidently served out the set 6-2, leveling the final and swinging the momentum firmly in her favor. This set was notably quicker, taking almost 45 minutes less than the first, highlighting Gauff's increased control and Sabalenka's mounting error count.

With the final now a one-set shootout, the tension was palpable. Sabalenka held her serve in the opening game of the decider, letting out a yell of satisfaction. However, Gauff soon secured a crucial break, aided by a Sabalenka double fault, to lead 2-1. The young American had opportunities to extend her lead to 4-1 but couldn't convert break points. Sabalenka then showed her fighting spirit, breaking back to level the set. But the topsy-turvy nature of the match continued, with Gauff immediately striking back with another break to re-establish her lead. This time, it proved to be the decisive move. Serving for the championship, Gauff faced a break point but held her nerve. On her second championship point, Sabalenka pushed a forehand wide, sealing Gauff's historic victory.

Overcome with emotion, Gauff dropped to the clay, her forehead smudged with the iconic Roland Garros surface, before rising to share an affectionate hug with Sabalenka and then rushing to celebrate with her parents, Candi and Corey, who were dancing euphorically in the stands. For Gauff, the victory was a moment of profound redemption. She had lost the 2022 French Open final to Iga Świątek, an experience she described as going through "a lot of dark thoughts." "I was going through a lot of things when I lost this final three years ago… so it means a lot to be here," Gauff shared, emotional in her post-match interview. Adding to her US Open title won in 2023 (also against Sabalenka), this win cemented her status as a multiple Grand Slam champion. "I honestly didn't think I could do it," she confessed during the trophy presentation. Gauff also thanked her team and family, attributing her success to their unwavering support and ability to keep her grounded. She concluded with a quote from Tyler, The Creator: "If I ever told you I had a doubt inside me, I must be lying."

For Aryna Sabalenka, the loss was a bitter pill to swallow. Despite reaching her third consecutive Grand Slam final, a testament to her remarkable consistency across all surfaces, she fell short of capturing her first major title on clay. The world number one was visibly distraught and fought back tears during her on-court interview. "Obviously, guys, this one hurts so much," she admitted. "Especially after such a tough two weeks playing great tennis and in these terrible conditions. (To) show such terrible tennis in the final, that really hurts." Sabalenka, who has won previous Grand Slams on hard courts, acknowledged Gauff's superior performance on the day: "Coco, congrats. In these tough conditions, you were a better player than me. Well done on a great two weeks, and congrats on a second grand slam." Her performance was marred by a staggering 70 unforced errors, a statistic that underscored her struggles in the final. Despite the defeat, her achievement of reaching 10 consecutive Grand Slam quarter-finals, the first since Serena Williams in 2017, highlights her elite status in the sport.