Aryna Sabalenka Labels her Roland Garros Final Performance as ‘the Worst in Many Months”

Aryna Sabalenka has now lost both of her Grand Slam finals in 2025 to an American tennis player.

Aryna Sabalenka Labels her Roland Garros Final Performance as ‘the Worst in Many Months”

Aryna Sabalenka (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

Aryna Sabalenka gave a harsh review of her performance in the French Open final, calling it the worst final she has ever played. She lost to Coco Gauff in three sets, 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4. The match marked Gauff’s second Grand Slam title and her first win at Roland Garros.

This final was notable for being the first between the top two players in the world at the French Open since 2013. Gauff became just the third American woman to win the women’s singles title in Paris since 1990. Sabalenka showed clear signs of disappointment throughout the match and afterward at the presser. She said in her Roland Garros post-match press conference:

I have to say the first two weeks I played really tough matches, really incredible players. I definitely played a better level than in the final. It was honestly the worst tennis I’ve played in the last I don’t know how many months. Conditions were terrible. She was simply better in these conditions than me. I think it was the worst final I ever played.

The match conditions were challenging as the roof remained open, exposing both players to strong winds. These gusts made play unpredictable and disrupted several important rallies during the final.

This loss is Sabalenka’s second straight defeat in a Grand Slam final. She was also beaten in the Australian Open earlier in the year by Madison Keys. It is also her second major final loss to Gauff, following the US Open defeat in 2023.

Coco Gauff accepts the Roland Garros final against Aryna Sabalenka wasn’t ‘pretty’

World No.2 Coco Gauff acknowledged that her French Open final win over Aryna Sabalenka wasn’t the cleanest match. However, she emphasized how much this particular Grand Slam meant to her. The world No. 2 came from behind to beat Sabalenka 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4, securing her second major title.

It was super tough. Right from the start, I felt the wind and I already knew it would be hard, because we didn’t have the roof closed. I knew everything would depend on willpower and mental aspects. Everything was decided in those last points, but overall, I’m super happy with today’s battle, it wasn’t pretty…

Gauff had an impressive run throughout the tournament, dropping just one set before the final. That lone set loss came against Madison Keys. On the clay courts of Roland Garros, she displayed confidence and composure, even though she was considered the underdog heading into the final.

The match itself was impacted by tough playing conditions. Strong winds made it difficult for either player to find a consistent rhythm, contributing to the lack of fluid play. Despite the stakes, both struggled to maintain quality throughout.

By the end, the match featured a combined total of 100 unforced errors. Sabalenka accounted for 70 of them, making it a hard-fought but error-heavy contest. Still, Gauff found a way to prevail and capture the title she deeply desired.

Coco Gauff wins second Grand Slam title

American star Coco Gauff claimed the 2025 French Open title with a hard-fought win over World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. In a thrilling final, Gauff came from a set down to win 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4 on the clay courts of Roland Garros. The match lasted 2 hours and 38 minutes, with Gauff lifting the prestigious Coupe Suzanne Lenglen for the first time.

Coco Gauff
Coco Gauff (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

This victory comes three years after Gauff finished as runner-up at the same event in 2022. It also adds to her Grand Slam tally, following her US Open win in 2023 where she also defeated Sabalenka after dropping the first set. With this result, Gauff now leads their head-to-head series 6-5 overall, including 2-1 on clay and 2-1 in major tournaments.

Her win marks a significant milestone for American tennis, as she became the first U.S. woman to win the French Open since Serena Williams in 2015. At 21, Gauff is also the youngest American to secure the Roland Garros title since Williams’ first triumph in 2002.

Gauff now leads the 2025 WTA Tour in clay-court wins with 18, just ahead of Sabalenka’s 17. Though she fell short in recent WTA 1000 finals in Madrid and Rome, this Grand Slam title is her first tournament win of the season and a major career highlight.

Also Read: Jannik Sinner Aims To “Try Something Different” Against Carlos Alcaraz at the Roland Garros Final