Gauff: The title means a lot to me and Sabalenka is the ideal opponent in the final

In the women's singles final of the 2025 French Open, world No. 1 Sabalenka won the first set in a breathtaking tug-of-war, but Gauff came back from the last two sets to lift the Susan Lenglen Cup for the first time after a fierce battle of 2 hours and 38 minutes.

Gauff

Reflecting on the match, Gauff said after the match: "I tried to play more aggressively in the second set, and it worked, and when it came to the deciding set, I knew she was going to improve her form... I thought, I have to keep up with her. That's right, just run as hard as you can. It really depends on the last few points, but overall I'm happy with my performance today, the process wasn't perfect, but the result is the most important thing. "

Gauff became the first American to win the French Open in Paris in a decade, after Serena Williams won the French Open for the third time in 2015. The 21-year-old is also the youngest French Open champion from the United States since Serena Williams won her first French Open in 2002. "This title means a lot to me because I grew up thinking it was one of the best tournaments to win," Gauff admits.

There was an unexpected "smell of gunpowder" in the post-match press conference, with Sabalenka describing the defeat as "the worst final of her career" and closing her press conference by saying that a loss to Swiatek in the semi-finals would have given the Pole four consecutive French Open titles.

Sabalenka choked up a little and said: "If Iga (Swiatek) had won against me that day, she would have won the title today." It's really uncomfortable, it's too painful to be honest. I played well throughout the tournament and then messed up at the last minute. "

Hearing this, Gauff naturally took a very different view, responding in her post-match press conference: "I don't agree with that statement – after all, I'm sitting here right now (laughs)." The last time I played Iga – no disrespect was meant – I won in straight sets. So this assumption is not fair, and anything can happen in a tennis match. "

"Truth be told, Alina [Sabalenka's] form over the past few weeks has been the favourite," Gauff analysed, "so it would be nice to have an opponent like her in the final." As the world No. 1, she would have been the ideal finalist. Judging by the numbers alone, I was probably the toughest battle I faced. "

"Of course, Iga [Swiatek] is the champion here, so it's going to be a tough fight against anyone. But no matter who the final is, I believe I can win. If you have to choose... Actually, I'd rather play against Iga because Alina is in terrible form – and it is. "

(Compiled by Faye Wong, Photo/Visual China)