Topline
Coco Gauff won her first French Open on Saturday, defeating No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in a three-set victory that marked her second Grand Slam singles title.
PARIS, FRANCE – JUNE 07: Coco Gauff of United States lifts the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen trophy after … More
Key Facts
Gauff bested Sabalenka 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4 in the tightly contested women’s final.
Gauff secured her second Grand Slam title with the win, tacking on to her US Open win in 2023, which was also done against Sabalenka.
Sabalenka and Gauff had played each other 10 times prior to their championship match, breaking even at five wins a piece.
With her victory, Gauff became the first American to win the French Open since 2015, when Serena Williams won the competition.
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Crucial Quote
Gauff talked about self-doubt and referenced a lyric from rapper Tyler, The Creator in her post-game speech, saying “If I ever told you I had a doubt inside me, I must be lying, so I’d like to leave that with you guys. I think I was lying to myself and I definitely could do it.”
Forbes Valuation
Gauff was the highest-paid female athlete in 2024, according to Forbes estimates, raking in around $34.4 million last year.
Big Number
$2.9 million. That is roughly how much Gauff will take home for winning the French Open, while Sabalenka will be rewarded $1.4 million for being a finalist. The total prize money dished out by the competition totals around $64 million, according to CBS Sports.
Key Background
Gauff, who is just 21 years old, has been lauded for her blazingly fast rise to tennis stardom. The Atlanta-born phenom was the youngest tennis player to reach the U.S. Open girls’ final at 13 years old and was also the youngest-ever Wimbledon qualifier at 15. Gauff went professional at the age of 18 and now holds the No. 2 spot on the Women’s Tennis Association rankings behind Sabalenka.
Further Reading
Why No Women Are Among The World’s 50 Highest-Paid Athletes In 2025 (Forbes)
Read the full article here