As Coco Gauff prepares to face world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the 2025 French Open women’s singles final on June 7, the 21-year-old American prodigy is embracing the moment with a maturity that belies her age. Reflecting on her second Grand Slam final appearance, Gauff offered a deeply insightful take on managing the pressure of such high-stakes matches, drawing from her experience as the 2022 Roland Garros runner-up and her 2023 US Open triumph. Her perspective, grounded in a broader view of life’s challenges, has resonated widely, showcasing the poise that has made her a fan favorite and a rising icon in women’s tennis.
Gauff’s journey to the 2025 French Open final has been a testament to her growth since her breakthrough as a 15-year-old at Wimbledon in 2019, where she stunned Venus Williams. After reaching the 2022 French Open final at 18, only to fall 6-1, 6-3 to Iga Swiatek, Gauff learned valuable lessons about handling the spotlight. “I was a little bit in shock that I was in that position, playing on the biggest court against the No. 1 player,” she said, recalling the overwhelming atmosphere of facing Swiatek at Roland Garros. That loss, coupled with the weight of expectations as a teenage prodigy, taught Gauff to reframe pressure. Now, as she prepares for Sabalenka, she approaches the final with a grounded mindset: “Everybody is dealing with way bigger things in life than losing a final… Knowing that regardless of the result, the sun will still rise the next day.”
Her path to the 2025 final was far from easy. Gauff, seeded No. 2, overcame a challenging draw, defeating American Madison Keys in a gripping 6-7(6), 6-4, 6-1 semifinal and battling past 361st-ranked Frenchwoman Loïs Boisson in the quarterfinals. Earlier, she navigated a tough third-round match against Marie Bouzkova, winning 6-1, 7-6(3), and showed resilience in a straight-sets victory over Tereza Valentova. Her ability to stay composed under pressure was evident in her quarterfinal performance, where she jokingly admitted to nearly forgetting her rackets, a light-hearted moment shared with compatriot Frances Tiafoe. Gauff’s run, which included her first win over Swiatek in 12 meetings during the WTA Finals group stage, has solidified her as a top contender, with a career-high ranking of No. 2 in June 2024.
Gauff’s perspective on pressure stems from a life philosophy shaped by her upbringing in Delray Beach, Florida, and the influence of her parents, both former collegiate athletes. “I think it’s just putting my life into perspective,” she explained, emphasizing that tennis, while central to her career, is not the entirety of her existence. “There are people who are struggling to feed their families, people who don’t know where their next meal is coming from… That’s real pressure, that’s real hardship, that’s real life.” This outlook, which she credits to her grounded upbringing, allows her to approach high-stakes matches with clarity. Reflecting on her 2022 loss to Swiatek, Gauff noted, “In Paris, I was walking around the city [after the final], and no one knew or cared I lost,” a realization that helped her let go of the fear of failure.
Her mental resilience has been honed by past challenges, including a first-round Wimbledon loss in 2023 and a 2024 US Open fourth-round exit, which led to her parting ways with coach Brad Gilbert. Now working with Matt Daly and Jean Christophe Faurel, Gauff has refined her game, blending her elite defensive skills—described as “like a wall” by journalists during her 2023 US Open run—with a powerful 125-mph serve, the fastest recorded in the 2025 Australian Open. Her 2023 US Open victory over Sabalenka, a 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 comeback, showcased her ability to adapt under pressure, a skill she’ll need against the Belarusian’s punishing groundstrokes in Paris.
Sabalenka, fresh off a dominant 7-6(1), 4-6, 6-0 win over Swiatek, praised Gauff’s tenacity: “She’s a tough opponent, always makes you work for every point.” Gauff, in turn, acknowledged the challenge, saying, “Aryna’s power is unreal, but I’m ready to fight for every ball.” Their rivalry, marked by Gauff’s 2023 US Open triumph, adds intrigue to the final, with Sabalenka holding a 4-3 head-to-head edge. Gauff’s 2024 French Open doubles title with Katerina Siniakova and her WTA Finals singles crown in Riyadh, where she earned a record $4.8 million, further highlight her ability to thrive in big moments.
As Gauff steps onto Court Philippe-Chatrier, she carries the hopes of American fans, inspired by her 2023 US Open win as the youngest American champion since Serena Williams in 1999. Yet, her focus remains inward. “I’m just going to give it my all. Whatever happens happens,” she said, echoing the mindset that fueled her 2023 triumph. With endorsements from New Balance, Rolex, and Bose, and a net worth exceeding $10 million, Gauff’s off-court success mirrors her on-court potential. As she faces Sabalenka, her ability to keep the moment “small enough” to manage could define her quest for a second Grand Slam title.
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