In a thrilling display of resilience and skill, Coco Gauff clinched her second Grand Slam title at the 2025 French Open on June 7, defeating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in a gripping final, 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4. The 21-year-old American’s victory on the red clay of Roland Garros not only marked her as the first U.S. woman to win the tournament since Serena Williams in 2015 but also propelled her into the upper echelons of tennis’s all-time prize money earners. With a winner’s cheque of €2.55 million (approximately $2.9 million), Gauff’s career earnings now approach $27.3 million, a staggering sum that cements her status as a financial powerhouse and a trailblazer in women’s sports.
Gauff’s journey to the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen was a testament to her mental fortitude. Facing a formidable Sabalenka, who led 4-1 in the first set, Gauff battled through windy conditions and a tense tiebreak to level the match. Her relentless defense and strategic play forced Sabalenka into 70 unforced errors, a stark contrast to Gauff’s 30, allowing her to seize control in the second and third sets. “It was super tough when I walked on the court and felt the wind because we warmed up with the roof closed,” Gauff said, reflecting on the challenging conditions. “I knew it was just going to be about willpower and mental. It wasn’t pretty, but it got the job done, and that’s all that matters.” Her victory, celebrated by figures like former President Barack Obama, underscored her growing influence both on and off the court.
The financial impact of Gauff’s triumph is monumental. Before Paris, her career prize money stood at $24.4 million, placing her 18th on the WTA’s all-time earnings list, just ahead of Ashleigh Barty and behind Kim Clijsters. The $2.9 million from Roland Garros, a 6.25% increase over last year’s champion Iga Swiatek’s €2.4 million, vaults Gauff to No. 12, surpassing Agnieszka Radwańska and trailing Karolina Pliskova. At just 21, she is poised to crack the top 10 soon, with Serena Williams’s record $94.8 million as the ultimate benchmark. “I’m just glad to be back here,” Gauff said, referencing her 2022 French Open final loss to Swiatek. “I was going through a lot of dark thoughts. Three finals … I guess I got the most important win. That’s all that matters.”
Gauff’s marketability amplifies her financial success. Named the world’s highest-paid female athlete in 2024 by Forbes, with $30.4 million in total earnings, including $21 million from endorsements with brands like New Balance, L’Oréal, and Rolex, Gauff’s French Open win enhances her appeal. Her 2024 WTA Finals victory in Riyadh, which earned her a record-breaking $4.8 million—the largest payout in women’s tennis history—further solidified her financial dominance. Posts on social media celebrated her achievement, with one fan noting, “Coco Gauff is the highest paid women’s athlete on the PLANET for a REASON,” reflecting the excitement around her growing legacy.
The French Open’s total prize purse of over $64 million, split equally between men’s and women’s singles, rewarded runner-up Sabalenka with $1.45 million, pushing her career earnings past $36 million. Semi-finalists Swiatek and French wildcard Lois Boisson each earned $784,983, with Boisson’s fairytale run to the final four marking a life-changing payday. Gauff’s 2,000 WTA ranking points from the win, replacing the 800 points from her 2024 semi-final, boosted her to 8,083 points, solidifying her No. 2 ranking behind Sabalenka. “I don’t agree with that,” Gauff responded to Sabalenka’s claim that Swiatek would have beaten her, asserting her dominance with, “I’m here sitting here [as the champion].”
Gauff’s journey began at age 15, when she stunned Venus Williams at Wimbledon 2019, and her 2018 junior French Open title foreshadowed her clay-court prowess. Managed by Coco Gauff Enterprises and WME, her off-court ventures reflect her ambition to make an impact “in business, philanthropy, and beyond.” Her relatable personality—evident in her love for anime and advocacy for social issues like gun violence—has endeared her to fans and sponsors alike. As she eyes Wimbledon and the Paris Olympics, Gauff’s French Open triumph signals not just a prize money breakthrough but the rise of a new tennis icon, ready to challenge the sport’s financial and cultural records for years to come.
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