Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff will face each other in the French Open final, setting up a clash between the world’s top two women’s tennis players at the French Open. On Thursday, Sabalenka defeated Iga Świątek in the semifinals, while Gauff beat Loïs Boisson.
No 1 seeded Sabalenka beat Świątek, the four-time champion,7-6 (7-1), 4-6, 6-0 – ending Świątek’s 26-match winning streak at the French Open (Świątek’s first defeat at Roland Garros since 2021 and only her third loss at the French Open in her career.) Sabalenka, 27, moves on to the final in Paris for the first time, giving her the chance to win her fourth major title after two at the Australian Open and one at the US Open.
Sabalenka said after the match: “Honestly, it feels incredible, but I understand the job is not done yet. I’m just thrilled today with this win and the atmosphere. She’s the toughest opponent, especially on clay, especially at Roland Garros. It was a tough match, it was a tricky match, but I managed.”
**
No. 2 seeded Coco Gauff easily beat France’s Loïs Boisson in straight sets on Thursday, winning 6-1, 6-2. Gauff reaches her second final at Roland-Garros by beating Boisson, who was the wild-card entry and is ranked No. 361. Gauff also made it to the final in 2022, where she lost to Iga Swiatek
Sabalenka vs. Gauff will be the first No. 1 vs. No. 2 final in Paris since 2013 — when Serena Williams defeated Maria Sharapova, and just the second in the last 30 years. It will also a rematch of the 2023 U.S. Open final, in which Gauff beat Sabalenka to claim her first major trophy at age 19.
Gauff and Sabalenka will face-off in the women’s final match on Saturday at 9 a.m. ET.
Editorial credit: Leonard Zhukovsky / Shutterstock.com
