Gauff reacts to winning the French Open women’s doubles title with Katerina Siniakova.
Coco Gauff admitted she didn’t really expect to become a Grand Slam doubles champion at the French Open after losing two finals in the past and realizing that she probably should focus on singles. On Sunday, Gauff and Katerina Siniakova lifted the French Open women’s doubles title after sealing a 7-6 (5) 6-3 win over Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini.
In what was their first-ever appearance as a doubles pair, Gauff and Siniakova claimed six wins – and five of those wins came in straight sets. Now, 20-year-old Gauff – who won the 2023 US Open – is a singles and doubles Grand Slam champion.
“I think it’s just one of those things that when you least expect it to happen, it happens,” Gauff confessed after the final.
Gauff: I thought maybe I should focus on singles…
In 2021, Gauff was just 17 when she made her first Grand Slam final in the US Open women’s doubles event.
Unfortunately for Gauff, she didn’t end up with the main glory that year after she and Caty McNally lost to Sam Stosur and Zhang Shuai. Then in 2022, Gauff made her second Grand Slam doubles final at the 2022 French Open with Jessica Pegula.
That time, Gauff and Pegula were beaten by Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic. “After I lost the first two (doubles) finals, I thought, well, okay, I reached that point, maybe I should focus on singles,” Gauff said. “Same thing, the US Open.
When I won it, I didn’t expect to win. I was having a really bad year. Then here, I didn’t even expect to play. I think it’s funny how life teaches you those lessons.” Also, Gauff revealed that she and Siniakova agreed to play the French Open doubles just two days before the tournament started.
“Third time’s a charm. Thank you, Katerina, for playing with me. We decided two days before the tournament to play together,” Gauff said.