Eagle-eyed observers must have spotted the similarities in Coco Gauff’s wins in the quarter-finals and final of the French Open against two of the WTA’s biggest hitters.
In the quarter-finals, Gauff trailed Madison Keys by two breaks, 4-1, and Keys had game points to get to 5-1 in the first set. Gauff lost the opener in a tiebreak but eventually came out on top, 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-1, helped by Keys’ 60 unforced errors.
Days later in the grand finale at Court Philippe-Chatrier, Aryna Sabalenka also led the American by two breaks and served at 4-1, 40-0, only to require a tiebreak in the first. Once again Gauff turned the tables, this time against an increasingly frustrated World No. 1 on a blustery, chilly day in Paris. The final score read 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4 as Sabalenka delivered 70 unforced errors.
“It was super tough when I walked on the court and felt the wind because we warmed up with the roof closed,” said Gauff afterwards. “I was, like, ‘This is going to be a tough day.’ And I knew it was just going to be about will power and mental.”
As was the case against Sabalenka in the U.S. Open final in 2023, the world No. 2 proved superior to the Belarusian between the ears.
Sabalenka also led by a set in New York and had things well under control, only to unravel while Gauff soared in the final two sets in front of her home crowd at the cavernous Arthur Ashe Stadium.
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Gauff became the first America woman to triumph at Roland-Garros since Serena Williams in 2015. A lengthy drought, yes, but it is not nearly as long as the men’s funk that dates back to 1999 when Andre Agassi — who was in Paris to hand out the trophies to men’s champion Carlos Alcaraz and finalist Jannik Sinner after their five-set classic — completed his Grand Slam collection.
Further, since Serena’s title 10 years ago — an ill Williams engineered one comeback after another during the fortnight — her compatriots Sloane Stephens, Sofia Kenin and Gauff have all made the final.
While any one player matching Serena’s feat of 24 Grand Slams appears unlikely, the American women are certainly flourishing.
This week, 18 are ranked inside the Top 100 (getting to 19 hasn’t happened since January 1999). American women also hold both Grand Slams this year (Keys and Gauff), with Jessica Pegula — the two-time defending champion at the National Bank Open presented by Rogers — almost getting the ball rolling on a USA trifecta at the 2024 U.S Open.
Among the newer faces expected to line up in Montreal come July are Ashlyn Krueger, McCartney Kessler and Hailey Baptiste.
Krueger’s power game has been likened to 2022 Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina. Kessler’s best results so far, like Krueger, have come on hard courts and the former University of Florida standout topped Gauff in February for a maiden Top 10 victory.
Baptiste, meanwhile, possesses an all-around game. Net rushing and slices dovetail with baseline pop, which helped the 23-year-old reach the fourth round at Roland-Garros on her favourite surface. Baptiste is co-coached by Frances Tiafoe’s twin brother, Franklin.
Back to Gauff, she studied French and spent ample time at Patrick Mouratoglou’s academy in the south of France. She didn’t address the crowd at Roland-Garros in French, though, because she thought she wasn’t up to scratch.
“So maybe if I get another opportunity, I can try again,” said Gauff. “For sure, I don't think I can do a whole speech, but maybe at least, like, a good something to say to the French crowd.”
Peut-être à Montréal or maybe in Montréal, where Gauff lost to the eventual champion in the quarter-finals — Pegula and Camila Giorgi — in her previous two visits.
The WTA's best return to Montreal this summer for the National Bank Open presented by Rogers July 26 to Aug. 7, 2025 at IGA Stadium. 2025 Tickets are on sale. Get your tickets today!
Feature Photo: Martin Sidorjak
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