‘Privileged’ Coco Gauff eyes French Open crown against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka

PARIS – Coco Gauff will try to downplay the magnitude of the French Open final against Aryna Sabalenka on June 7 and learn from her runner-up finish at Roland Garros in 2022.

The 21-year-old American swept into her third Grand Slam singles final with a 6-1, 6-2 win that put an abrupt end to surprise French heroine Lois Boisson’s improbable run in Paris.

Gauff lost the 2022 French Open final to Polish star Iga Swiatek before beating Sabalenka a year later to capture her first Major title at the US Open.

She believes she is a much more confident player than the teenager beaten in her maiden Grand Slam final.

“My first final here I was super nervous, and I kind of wrote myself off before the match even happened,” said Gauff, the world No. 2 behind Belarus’ Sabalenka.

“Obviously now I have a lot more confidence just from playing a Grand Slam final before and doing well in one. I think going into Saturday I’ll just give it my best shot and try to be as calm and relaxed as possible.”

Gauff said that the experience of losing to Swiatek three years ago gave her fresh perspective she hopes will serve her well for the June 7 showpiece.

“Everybody is dealing with way bigger things in life than losing a final,” she added.

“I’m sure there are hundreds of players that would kill to win or lose a final, so just knowing that, making me realise how lucky and privileged I am to be in this position.

“At first I thought it would be the end of the world if I lost, and you know, the sun still rose the next day. So knowing, regardless of the result, the sun will still rise.”

The American dominated from the outset against Boisson on June 5 to extinguish the hosts’ hopes of a first French Open winner since Mary Pierce in 2000.

But a much tighter contest likely awaits her against Sabalenka. She has a 5-5 record against the Belarusian but lost to her on clay in the Madrid final in May.

Gauff knows she will need to be at her best to counter Sabalenka’s power.

Her 27-year-old opponent cranked it up in the third set to blow away three-time defending champion Swiatek in the first semi-final and snap the Pole’s 26-match winning streak at the French Open.

“She can come up with some big shots and big winners pretty much at all areas of the court,” said Gauff.

“She’s a fighter as well, she’s going to stay in the match regardless of the scoreline.

“Anything can happen on Saturday. But I’m looking forward to it and glad to be going up against a world No. 1 too.”

Hard-court specialist Sabalenka was told for years that clay courts were not her surface. But after reaching her first Roland Garros final, she said that winning the French Open would mean the world to her.

Her collection of three Grand Slam titles comprises back-to-back Australian Open crowns in 2023 and 2024, plus the US Open title last season. Both of those Grand Slam tournaments are played on hard courts that suit her power game perfectly.

“Well, it’s going to mean everything to me and my team, because I have to say that almost like (my) whole life I’ve been told that it (clay surface) is not my thing and then I didn’t have any confidence,” she said.

“We’ve been able to develop my game so much. I have to say that for the clay I got better, much better physically. I think it’s really important on clay to be physically strong and ready to work for each point.

“If I’ll be able to get this trophy, it’s just going to mean the world for us. I’m ready to go in that final and to fight, fight for every point and give everything I have to give to get the win.” AFP, REUTERS