As Coco Gauff prepares to contest her second French Open final, the American star has opened up about the mental misstep that haunted her in the 2022 title clash—a self-sabotaging mindset she’s determined not to repeat when she takes on world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
Learning from Paris Pain: Coco Gauff's 2022 admission
Gauff was just 18 when she stepped onto Court Philippe-Chatrier in 2022 to play her first Grand Slam final against then-dominant Iga Swiatek. The occasion, however, overwhelmed her. Rather than rising to the moment, Gauff now admits she mentally folded before the match even began.
“My first final here [in 2022] I was super nervous, and I kind of wrote myself off before the match even happened,” she revealed.
The result was a lopsided defeat that exposed both her inexperience and the pressure of expectation. But the 2023 US Open champion insists that experience has transformed her approach to high-stakes encounters.
A renewed mindset ahead of Aryna Sabalenka showdown
Coco Gauff’s path to her third Grand Slam final has been clinical, including a dominant 6-1, 6-2 win over Lois Boisson in the semis. But it’s her growth off the court that might make the biggest difference when she meets Aryna Sabalenka.
Now world No. 2, Gauff is leaning into the moment with a mix of maturity and gratitude.
“Obviously here I have a lot more confidence just from playing a Grand Slam final before and doing well in one. I’ll just give it my best shot and try to be as calm and relaxed as possible,” Gauff stated.
“Whatever happens, happens, and knowing that I put the best effort forward.”
She’s also gained a broader perspective on the magnitude of such moments.
“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.”
“I was walking around the next day, and no one knew that I lost, and no one cared… Just realizing that how big the moment seems in our lives is not as big in the grand scheme of things.”
Gauff vs Sabalenka: Rivalry Renewed
The championship bout is set to be explosive. Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka are deadlocked 5-5 in their career head-to-head, but the Belarusian has won three of their last four matchups—including a straight-sets win in Madrid earlier this season.
Unlike her match against Swiatek in 2022, Gauff enters Saturday’s final with a genuine belief in her ability to prevail.
With this final appearance, Gauff becomes only the fourth American woman in the Open Era to reach multiple singles finals at Roland-Garros, joining legends Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, and Serena Williams.
This time, however, Coco Gauff isn't just happy to be there—she's coming for the trophy, armed with lessons from her past and a champion's mindset.