John Isner Thinks Beating Aryna Sabalenka Would’ve Been More ‘Tougher’ for Coco Gauff If ‘This’ Happened in French Open Final

Aryna Sabalenka, after her defeat to Coco Gauff in the French Open, has now lost the two Grand Slam finals she played this season.

John Isner Thinks Beating Aryna Sabalenka Would’ve Been More ‘Tougher’ for Coco Gauff If ‘This’ Happened in French Open Final

John Isner, Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff (Image via Wikipedia, X/L'Equipe)

Coco Gauff came from a set down to defeat World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka to become a French Open champion for the first time in her career. The final on Saturday (June 7) on Court Philippe-Chatrier was played in a windy condition about which Sabalenka complained after her defeat.

Sabalenka, who committed 70 unforced errors to Gauff’s 30, stated that the American handled the windy conditions better than her. John Isner, during the Nothing Major podcast, suggested that the condition was advantageous for the now two-time Grand Slam singles champion.

I think certain players would want the roof closed and certain players wouldn’t. I think Coco was very happy that the roof was open. I think if they close that thing it would have been a lot tougher for her. I’m not saying she couldn’t win.

Gauff has become the youngest American to win the French Open after 23-time Grand Slam singles champion Serena Williams. She is the first woman to win at Roland Garros after dropping the first set since Steffi Graf in 1999. The 21-year-old has also become the second youngest woman to capture multiple Grand Slam trophies after Maria Sharapova (2004 Wimbledon and the 2006 US Open).

Gauff took a 6-5 lead in the head-to-head record over the three-time Grand Slam singles champion. They have met twice so far this season. Before Paris, they clashed in the Madrid Open final which Gauff lost.

While the French Open was Gauff’s first title of the season, Sabalenka was bidding to win her fourth following her victories in Brisbane, Miami, and Madrid. The match against Gauff was also Sabalenka’s seventh final of the season.

Both Gauff and Sabalenka have reached three finals on clay, winning one title. The former, before the French Open, was the finalist in Madrid and Rome (lost to Jasmine Paolini), while Sabalenka was defeated by Jelena Ostapenko in the Stuttgart Open final before she beat Gauff in Madrid.

Iga Swiatek congratulates Coco Gauff for her French Open victory

Iga Swiatek was the undisputed champion at Roland Garros for the past three seasons. After clinching her first Major title at the 2020 French Open, Swiatek went on to capture three consecutive trophies in the tournament and was expected to end her trophy drought when she arrived in Paris this season.

Coco Gauff Roland Garros
Coco Gauff (Image via Roland Garros)

Swiatek hasn’t yet reached a tour-level singles final since winning her third consecutive French Open title last year. Her campaign here this season was ended by Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals; and after the final, the 24-year-old took to Instagram to congratulate Coco Gauff and well as men’s French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz for their wins.

Every year in Paris gives me energy boost for the rest of the season and with that being said I’m starting my preparation to the grass season very, very soon. Congrats Coco Gauff and Carlos Alcaraz for your [trophies] and guys… what an absolutely mesmerising tennis we’ve seen from both of you. Wow.

Check out her post here:

Alcaraz beat World No.1 Jannik Sinner in what was also the longest French Open final in the history of tennis. He defended his crown, clinching his fifth Grand Slam title.

These players will now be preparing for the grass swing. Sabalenka, Swiatek, and Gauff have never tasted success on the surface. Alcaraz is a three-time champion and two of these titles he lifted by beating 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in back-to-back Wimbledon finals (2023 and 2024).

Sinner has one grass-court title under his belt (the 2024 Halle Open). Except for Alcaraz, the rest of these players have never reached the final in the grass-court Major.

Also read: Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner Break a 14-Year Viewership Record After their Titanic Roland Garros Final