The French Open has always been special to Coco Gauff.
Gauff, who entered Thursday trying to win her second grand slam, almost won it all at Roland Garros when she was just 18-years-old.
Gauff wowed Paris tennis fans with her power and precision on the clay courts in 2022.
She ended up just two sets away from becoming a French Open champion.
“This is the first time for me, so let’s try to get through this,” an emotional Gauff said in the aftermath.
As she spoke, the young American was overwhelmed by the power of the moment.
With fans standing and applauding inside the venue – something that may surprise some given the trouble this year – Gauff paid tribute to French Open winner Iga Swiatek and joked that she hoped to one day end as a winner when playing the game’s No. 1.
“What you’ve done on tour the past couple months have truly been amazing and you totally deserve it,” Gauff told Poland’s superstar. “Hopefully we can play each other in more finals.”
As Gauff referenced her supporters, tears began to flow.
Gauff turned her head and wiped her eyes while holding a microphone, then publicly praised all those who helped her reach the finals at 18.
“I’d like to thank my team,” Gauff said. “I’m sorry I wasn’t able to get this done today.”
The Roland Garros crowd clearly appreciated Gauff’s honesty and sincerity.
“Thank you guys for always supporting me,” the American said. “Hopefully this is the first final of many. I really appreciate you guys lot. You guys helped me so much throughout this year.”
Gauff beat Rebecca Marino, Alison Van Uytvanck, Kaia Kanepi, Elise Mertens, Sloane Stephens and Martina Trevisan on the way to the Finals.
Gauff won over the crowd in June and connected with a new legion of fans during her final comments.
Wiping away tears again, the young star thanked the crowd that tried to help her at the French Open against the No. 1 seed.
“Most importantly, thank you you guys,” Gauff said. “You guys supported me even when I was down — even when I was down match points.
“You were cheering me on and that means a lot. So truly thank you.”
Then Gauff reminded the world that she was an 18-year-old on one of the biggest tennis stages in the world.
“I don’t know where to go,” said Gauff, before she gave back the mic.
The young American did get her hands on a Grand Slam eventually, with her success coming on home soil at the 2023 US Open.
She beat No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka in the final to claim her first major title.
To those who have followed her career it was perhaps unsurprising. Gauff turned pro at the age of 14 and, among other, had Mike Tyson predicting big things for her before she wowed Roland Garros.
Often said to be the new era’s Venus and Serena Williams – her idols as a rising star – she even beat five-time Wimbledon champion Venus when she was just 15 in a 2019 third round match at the All-England club. In playing in SW17, she became the youngest player in Wimbledon’s history to qualify for the main draw.
This year, Gauff is seeded third at the 2024 French Open.
She rallied from a set down to defeat No. 8 Ons Jabeur in the quarterfinals.