Coco Gauff beats Aryna Sabalenka to win French Open women’s singles final – as it happened
Tumaini Carayol’s report is here, after that epic final.It should go down as a classic.If the play didn’t always hit the heights, the drama certainly did.Dodgy microphone means a tearful Coco does a Norman Collier, and it’s hard to hear her.She thanks her mum who is straining to hear.
Fast talker, is our Coco.She thanks her family and team.“You guys are amazing” is the vibe.“The crowd really helped me.I am not sure what I did for that to happen.
”She thanks Tyler, the Creator, for an inspirational quote,And this may be the first time Norman Collier and Tyler have ever been mentioned together,Up comes Coco Gauff, the champion, still just 21,Le vainquer, as the announcer has it,She gets plenty of time to wield the trophy, the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen, as the Star-Spangled Banner rings out.
Sabalenka, with tears in her eyes, is asked to say something.Is this necessary? She’s struggling.“This all hurts so much…to play such terrible tennis in these conditions.Coco, you were much better than me, you are a fighter.It was a great two weeks.
[To Henin] You were such an inspiration to me.Thank you to my team.I am sorry for this terrible final…as always I will come back stronger.”That was a tough watch.The Gauff family are Facetiming home while Sabalenka is sat contemplating defeat.
Wimbledon is just around the corner, and she can win there.Gauff is in tears as the trophy is brought out to begin the ceremonials.Justine Henin, she who John McEnroe said had the best backhand in the sport, is leading the gong-giving.She won twice at Roland Garros.That was gutsy from Gauff, real champion quality in holding on when her rival threatened to overpower her.
The player with the more complete game won out,Sabalenka lost control of her emotions once she realised she had to throw everything at an opponent who would not lie down to the barrage,That’s her second Grand Slam, and the two players embraced, sportingly,Both of them went through so much in that game,Gauff never lost her way despite losing the first, and she kept her cool, too.
Gauff* 6-7 6-2 6-4 SabalenkaSabalenka fooled by the slower ball of a first serve – 15-0,Sabalenka charges forward for 15-15,Huge service return, and it’s 15-30,Huge serve for 30-30,Coco surges on to a loose forehand and top-spins it for Championship Point.
Sabalenka saves it with an amazing shot, right off the baseline,Incroyable! Then, Sabalenka is the quickest around the court and has a break point! Gauff misses the first serve,Sabalenka gambles on the second serve,And misses! Deuce,Gauff skids a serve, and Sabalenka hands over match point.
Then, just as it seems Gauff has made a mess of a rally the ball drops in and Sabalenka goes for it one last time and misses…,Gauff is the championGauff 6-7 6-2 5-4 Sabalenka*This is sudden death for Sabalenka,She’s one of the game’s gamblers,And so will go for power,At 30-15 she lacerates the ball home.
That’s been lacking for too long.It’s 40-15, as with nothing to lose she finally seems relaxed.Gauff will make her work after a fine service return.First serve is netted.The second allows Gauff into the rally, and Gauff is two points from the title at deuce.
Some power hitting means Sabalenka can save herself.She can.Gauff will be asked to serve for the championship.Gauff* 6-7 6-2 5-3 SabalenkaCan Gauff serve this out? There’s surely more drama to come.To 30-15 she gets, and then 40-15.
It’s within sight.Sabalenka must rediscover her serve or the trophy is heading across the Atlantic.Gauff 6-7 6-2 4-3 Sabalenka*Levels, you devils, and this is a classic going into high drama.Only for Sabalenka to malfunction – and be broken back.A break to love! Gauff is back in charge.
So determined,Gauff* 6-7 6-2 3-3 SabalenkaPressure back on Gauff’s serve now,Sabalenka lands a break point, and the match is back in the balance,Gauff 6-7 6-2 3-2 Sabalenka*Oh dear, 15-30, panic beginning to set in? The serve has been unreliable at best,It bails her out for 30-30.
Gauff takes control of a rally that has Sabalenka sprawling desperately and then swings a winner to claim a break point.More deep breaths from Sabalenka, and a huge serve down the central line.She is then tempted into a drop, and pays the price.Another break point to Gauff but no answer to the exocet missiles launched by her opponent.Sabalenka holds but is battling herself just as much as her opponent.
Gauff* 6-7 6-2 3-1 SabalenkaNow, can Coco hold? Some huge hitting round the court, and she’s the quicker, more alert player.Sabalenka is trying to slow down her adrenaline.Big, deep breaths.30-15, then 40-15 as Sabalenka clanks her return.That will bring about a change of racquet.
It’s a double fault – Gauff’s second of the game – but a faded slice means Sabalenka can only net.The game is within the grasp of the American.Gauff 6-7 6-2 2-1 Sabalenka*Gauff’s speed pulls Sabalenka into an error, and she overhits a cross-court shot.It’s 30-30, and then suddenly break point, and a potential path to victory for Gauff.The big service bomb means it will have to be second serve….
double fault and Sabalenka’s coaches are bearing the brunt,Gauff* 6-7 6-2 1-1 SabalenkaGauff is serving well now,Thar augurs well,She holds to love, despite Sabalenka’s claim she had the ball in,The ump steps from her chair to prove she is wrong.
Gauff 6-7 6-2 0-1 Sabalenka*Perhaps this is where Sabalenka recover her focus,Though she is overly risky when missing a shot at the net for 30-15,But she holds,Gauff* 6-7 6-2 SabalenkaGauff is determined to see this out,She’s the player in the ascendancy here, and she serves out to love, and there will be a third and deciding set.
Gauff 6-7 5-2 Sabalenka*Sabalenka screams out as she slips to 0-30 down,More rage as three break points are offered up,The first is handed over, and Gauff can serve out the set,Gauff* 6-7 4-2 SabalenkaGauff’s winner down the line shows she is still full of concentration,Her opponent, less so.
The American is gutsy, more consistent, and yet Sabalenka is probably more dangerous,This can oscillate between brilliance and farce,The latter is ruling now,Though it is Gauff who makes a mess of a drop shot,And suddenly, there’s a break point.
That’s how this match rolls.Still, some good court management takes her to advantage at deuce.Before a dolly drop of a failed backhand, and it’s a break point Sabalenka contrives to make a mess of.Now an error from Gauff.Untimely if a third set is to come.
Sabalenka claims a break back.Gauff 6-7 4-1 *SabalenkaSabalenka seems to have been discombobulated by winning the first set.She offers up three cheap break points.And goes 1-4 down.Are we looking to a decider already?Gauff* 6-7 3-1 SabalenkaGauff made to work for her hold.
This set far less frantic than its predecessor.Sabalenka’s errors are still handing Gauff a way back into this match.Gauff 6-7 2-1 Sabalenka*Sabalenka unleashes a big serve for 40-15.Are they both going to hold serve? Miracles never cease.She does, as Gauff nets
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