COCO GAUFF became the first American singles winner of the French Open since Serena Williams as she overpowered fuming Aryna Sabalenka in Paris.
For the first time in a decade, the Roland Garros women’s crown will be in United States hands as Gauff came from a set behind on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
Under an open roof, in a final that pitted the No1 versus the No2 seed, the 21-year-old won 6-7 6-2 6-4 after more than two-and-a-half hours, with Manchester United legend Eric Cantona watching from the front-row seats.
Gauff, who lost to Iga Swiatek in the 2022 final, fell to the floor when it was all over and started to cry, mouthing: “Oh my God, oh my God.”
This is Gauff’s second major championship win, the last one coming against the Belarusian at the 2023 US Open in New York, which also went to three sets.
It was tense and suspenseful but not the best quality final.
That will matter little for the Yanks as Gauff took possession of the trophy on the biggest clay-court arena in the world.
Tenacious Sabalenka, who has a tiger tattoo on her left forearm, managed to come from 4-1 down in the first-set tie break to move 1-0 up after 80 minutes of intense play.
It was the first time the opening set of the women’s singles final in the French capital had been decided at the tie-break since 1998 when Arantxa Sanchez Vicario faced Monica Seles.
Yet world No2 Gauff won 12 of the next 18 games, banking the £2.1million top prize on her second match point in slightly bizarre fasion.
Her forehand looked for all the world to be heading long but bounced on the line as Sabalenka had to readjust to keep the rally going but on her next shot pushed a backhand wide of the tramline as Gauff collapsed on to the clay in delight.
The Florida-born star is the first American to win the Roland Garros singles title since Williams in 2015.
And she is also the youngest American conqueror since the retired 23-time Grand Slam champion was successful in 2002 aged 20.
World No1 Sabalenka, as she often does, cut a frustrated figure as things went against her, screaming out obscenities to her box, and failing to find any inspiration to stop the tie turning in her opponent’s favour.
Gauff hugged film director Spike Lee before going up to her players’ box to celebrate with her family.
Handed the trophy by Belgium’s four-time French Open champion Justine Henin, Gauff said: “I’d like to thank God. I went through a lot of things when I lost this final three years ago.
“I’m happy to be here. It means a lot to win this. Aryna, you are a fighter.
“I know that sometimes I am not the easiest person and I can be so serious but my team reminds me there is more to life. And that plays me better on court.
“Thanks also to my parents. Keeping me grounded and giving me the belief that I can do this.”
Sabalenka could not bear to watch the highlights of the contest that was replayed on the TV screens and covered her face with a towel in her seat.
When she spoke to the crowd, she broke down in tears, before saying: “This hurts so much.
“Especially after such a tough two weeks, playing great tennis and then in these different conditions, we showed terrible tennis in the final – that really hurts.
“Coco congrats. In these tough conditions, you were a better player than me. Well deserved. You are a fighter and a hard worker.
“Thank you my team for your support. I am sorry for this terrible final. As always, I will come back stronger.”
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