Gauff and Sabalenka Set for Blockbuster French Open Final

PARIS — Coco Gauff defeated local favorite Leolia Boisson 6-1, 6-2 on Thursday, advancing to the French Open final for the first time. The match, played on Court Philippe-Chatrier, eliminated Boisson, who entered the tournament ranked 361st in the world.

The victory sets up a highly anticipated championship match against Aryna Sabalenka, the top seed, who stopped Iga Swiatek‘s 26-match French Open unbeaten streak with a semifinal win of her own: 7-6 (1), 4-6, 6-0. Swiatek was gunning for her fourth consecutive title in Paris, a feat never achieved in the Open era.

Gauff, ranked second, displayed her exceptional skills under pressure, breaking Boisson’s serve multiple times and maintaining strong control throughout the match. “I was mentally prepared,” Gauff said, addressing the challenging atmosphere of local supporters cheering for Boisson. “When you were saying her name, I was saying my name to myself just to psyche myself.”

Despite the fierce crowd, Gauff’s consistent play helped her dominate the match, noting her effective forehand and impressive backhand. Boisson struggled against her, accumulating only seven winners compared to Gauff’s 32, while making 33 unforced errors compared to Gauff’s 15.

After racing to an early lead, Gauff noted, “It’s always the plan to start strong. I knew it was important today.” Meanwhile, Boisson expressed disappointment but remained positive about her tournament experience, citing a significant prize money win of 690,000 euros ($789,567).

In the other semifinal, Sabalenka showcased her power, particularly in the decisive third set, where she dominated Swiatek. “Couldn’t be more perfect than that,” Sabalenka stated about her performance. The match saw Swiatek struggle, contributing 12 unforced errors in the final set. “Just couldn’t push back,” she admitted after the loss.

The highly-anticipated Gauff vs. Sabalenka final will take place on Saturday, marking only the second No. 1 vs. No. 2 women’s final at the French Open in 30 years.