The red clay of Roland Garros was still fresh on Coco Gauff’s shoes when she stood on the hallowed grounds of Court Philippe-Chatrier, hoisting the gleaming Coupe Suzanne Lenglen above her head. On June 7, 2025, the 21-year-old American tennis phenom clinched her first French Open title, defeating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in a gripping three-set battle, 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4. The victory marked her second Grand Slam singles title, following her 2023 US Open triumph, and solidified her status as a rising star in American tennis, the first woman to win at Roland Garros since Serena Williams in 2015. But as Gauff celebrated her monumental achievement, she later revealed a surprising detail about the trophy that left fans both amused and astonished—it wasn’t the one she got to take home.
In a lighthearted TikTok video posted the day after her victory, Gauff peeled back the curtain on a little-known French Open tradition. While en route to the United States on a private jet, she shared a playful comparison between the iconic silver trophy she’d posed with during the ceremony and the miniature replica she was given to keep. “I just won a French Open for Roland Garros, and this is the trophy that you guys see, the one that we take pictures with, do press, and all that,” she said, gesturing to a photo of herself with the full-sized Coupe Suzanne Lenglen. “But actually, we don’t get to take this home. This stays with the tournament, and I’m gonna show you guys the one we take home. It’s a lot smaller.”
With a giggle, Gauff held up the pint-sized replica, barely taller than a Perrier water bottle or a glass she placed beside it for scale. “It’s like a mini replica of the trophy, and I guess to compare it, it’s really small,” she said, her infectious smile underscoring her good humor. “But, you know, it’s the memories that matter the most. It is very pretty, and it is like a miniature version of the real trophy.” The revelation sparked a wave of reactions online, with fans marveling at the modest keepsake. One commenter quipped, “Not the sippy cup for the CHAMPION,” while another noted, “It’s just a baby🥰.” Even tennis legend Andy Murray chimed in on Instagram, calling out Grand Slam tournaments with a playful jab: “Surely the tennis majors can do a better job with the replica trophies?! They are tiny.”
The reason behind the miniature trophy lies in the French Open’s tradition of preserving the original Coupe Suzanne Lenglen, a perpetual trophy crafted with approximately 31 pounds of silver by the prestigious jewelry house Mellerio dits Meller. Designed to be displayed at Roland Garros, the full-sized trophy remains a symbol of the tournament’s storied history, while champions receive a smaller, equally detailed replica to commemorate their victory. Gauff, unfazed by the size, described it as “adorable” during an appearance on the TODAY show on June 9, 2025. “It looks just like the real one, just smaller,” she told hosts Craig Melvin and Savannah Guthrie, emphasizing its portability. “It’s mini-size, like the little mini-brands, so that’s what this is.”
Gauff’s journey to the 2025 French Open title was nothing short of cinematic. Facing Sabalenka, a formidable opponent known for her powerful baseline game, Gauff dropped the first set in a grueling 77-minute tiebreaker. “That first set was so long. It was like an hour and twenty minutes, and then I went to the bathroom, used the bathroom, and I kind of had a mini-panic session,” she admitted on TODAY. But Gauff’s resilience shone through. She regrouped, loosened up, and dominated the next two sets, capitalizing on Sabalenka’s errors while showcasing her own speed and tactical brilliance. “I was able to loosen up after that and play a little bit freer,” she later reflected, highlighting her mental toughness.
The victory held deep personal significance. After losing the 2022 French Open final to Iga Swiatek at just 18, Gauff had battled self-doubt. “I was going through a lot of things when I lost in this final three years ago,” she said during the trophy ceremony. “I’m just happy to be here, a lot of dark thoughts.” Her 2025 triumph was a testament to her growth, both as a player and a person. “I think this [Grand Slam] win was harder than the first because you don’t want to get satisfied with just that one,” she told reporters, underscoring her drive to prove her US Open title was no fluke.
Sabalenka’s post-match comments stirred brief controversy when she attributed her loss to her own mistakes rather than Gauff’s play. “She won the match not because she played incredible, just because I made all of those mistakes,” Sabalenka initially said. She later clarified on Instagram: “Coco handled the conditions much better than I did and fully deserved the win. She was the better player yesterday, and I want to give her the credit she earned.” Gauff, gracious in victory, brushed off the remarks. “I was a little bit surprised about the comments and everything, but I’m gonna give her the benefit of the doubt. I’m sure it was an emotional day, emotional match,” she said.
Beyond the trophy’s size, Gauff’s victory resonated on a broader scale. As the first American woman to win the French Open in a decade, she spoke of her role as a beacon of hope. “There’s a lot going on in our country right now,” she said in her post-match press conference. “Just to be able to be a representation of that and a reflection of hope and light for those people that look like me in America who maybe don’t feel as supported during this time period.” Her words, delivered with the shiny replica by her side, underscored the weight of her achievement.
Gauff’s lighthearted trophy reveal didn’t diminish the magnitude of her triumph. From parading the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen through Paris’s Place de la Concorde in stylish Miu Miu attire to crashing The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, she embraced her moment in the spotlight. The tiny trophy, now a viral sensation, may be small, but as Gauff herself put it, “It’s the memories that matter the most.” For a champion whose star continues to rise, this miniature keepsake is just the beginning of a collection destined to grow.
Leave a Reply