In a commanding performance at Roland Garros, 21-year-old Coco Gauff stormed into her second French Open final, defeating French wildcard Loïs Boisson 6-1, 6-2 in a swift 70-minute semifinal clash on June 5, 2025. The victory not only secured Gauff a blockbuster showdown against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka but also placed her among American tennis royalty, matching a historic record set by legends Venus Williams, Chris Evert, and Nancy Richey. Gauff became the fourth American woman to reach multiple French Open finals in the Open Era, a testament to her meteoric rise and unyielding ambition on the red clay of Paris.
Gauff’s path to the final was marked by resilience and maturity. Facing a partisan crowd of 15,000 at Court Philippe-Chatrier, cheering fervently for the 361st-ranked Boisson, Gauff remained unfazed. “This is my first time playing a French player here. I was mentally prepared that it was to be 99% for her, so I was trying to block it out,” Gauff said, revealing her mental fortitude. To counter the crowd’s chants for Boisson, she admitted to psyching herself up by repeating her own name silently. The strategy worked, as she raced to a 4-0 lead in the first set, her forehand and backhand firing with precision, while Boisson struggled with unforced errors. “It’s always the plan to start strong,” Gauff noted, crediting her aggressive approach for setting the tone against a player who had stunned top seeds like Jessica Pegula and Mirra Andreeva earlier in the tournament.
The match showcased Gauff’s athletic prowess, honed in the sweltering heat of South Florida, as she outran and outlasted Boisson in nearly every rally. “She played on the right and on the left and on the right,” a visibly dazed Boisson said afterward. “I just feel like I was running everywhere on the court today … I couldn’t play my game today because she was just too good.” Gauff’s ability to retrieve seemingly impossible shots and turn defense into offense left Boisson, the first Frenchwoman to reach the semifinals since Marion Bartoli in 2011, unable to find her rhythm. A brief hiccup in the second set, where Gauff allowed a break, was quickly rectified as she reeled off eight consecutive points to close out the match, her 71% first-serve percentage in the decider proving decisive.
This milestone places Gauff in elite company. Venus Williams, Chris Evert, and Nancy Richey each reached multiple French Open finals, with Evert holding a record seven titles and Williams and Richey each claiming one. Gauff’s 2022 final appearance, where she fell to Iga Swiatek, was a learning experience that she believes has prepared her for this moment. “I kind of wrote myself off before the match even happened,” she reflected on her 2022 loss. “Obviously here I have a lot more confidence just from playing a Grand Slam final before and doing well in one.” Her 2023 US Open title, won against Sabalenka in a thrilling comeback, further bolsters her belief as she prepares for their rematch in the 2025 final, only the second No. 1 vs. No. 2 women’s final at Roland Garros in the last 30 years.
Gauff’s journey to this point has been nothing short of remarkable. Entering the tournament as the No. 2 seed, she arrived in Paris on the heels of back-to-back finals in Madrid and Rome, where she lost to Sabalenka and Jasmine Paolini, respectively. Her clay-court record this spring, an impressive 11-3, included a stunning 6-1, 6-1 victory over Swiatek in Madrid, her first win against the Pole on clay. “I would definitely think it’s pretty open,” Gauff said of the women’s field, acknowledging the depth of talent but exuding confidence in her own chances. Her straight-sets dominance throughout the tournament, including wins over Ekaterina Alexandrova (6-0, 7-5) and Madison Keys (6-7, 6-4, 6-1), showcased her growth since her 2019 Roland Garros debut at age 15.
The final against Sabalenka, scheduled for June 7 at 9 a.m. ET, promises to be a clash of titans. Gauff’s aggressive style, as she described—“trying to go for my shots and be aggressive”—will meet Sabalenka’s powerful groundstrokes and relentless intensity. “I’m sure there are hundreds of players that would kill to win or lose a final, so just knowing that, making me realize how lucky and privileged I am to be in this position,” Gauff said, displaying a maturity that belies her age. Her ability to handle pressure, evident in her 2024 WTA Finals triumph over both Swiatek and Sabalenka, suggests she’s ready to seize this opportunity.
As Gauff aims to become the first American woman to win the Suzanne Lenglen Cup since Serena Williams in 2015, she carries the weight of history and the hopes of a nation. Her journey from a racket-forgetting first-rounder to a record-equaling finalist embodies her relentless drive. With the tennis world watching, Gauff stands on the cusp of etching her name deeper into the sport’s storied legacy.
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