Coco Gauff To “Put Best Effort Forward” In Final

American star Coco Gauff said she will take lessons from her previous Grand Slam finals and put her best foot forward when she faces Aryna Sabalenka in Saturday’s blockbuster French Open title clash in Paris.

Gauff, the second seed at this year’s tournament, reached the French Open final for the second time after ending French wild card Lois Boisson’s fairytale run with a 6-1, 6-2 semifinal victory on Thursday.

The 21-year-old American last played at the French Open final in 2022, losing to Iga Swiatek in straight sets. The following year, Gauff won the U.S. Open, her first and only major title so far, after beating Sabalenka in the final in three sets.

Coco Gauf Calm Before Blockbuster Final

Gauff and top-ranked Sabalenka have played four times since then, each winning twice, and Saturday’s championship will be their 11th career meeting.

“My first final here, I was super nervous, and I kind of wrote myself off before the match even happened,” Gauff told reporters after the semifinal. “Obviously, here I have a lot more confidence just from playing a Grand Slam final before and doing well in one.

“Yeah, I think going into Saturday, I’ll just give it my best shot and try to be as calm and relaxed as possible.

“Whatever happens, happens, and knowing that I put the best effort forward.”

ForbesFrench Open 2025: Coco Gauff Beats Madison Keys To Reach SemifinalsBy Manasi Pathak

Coco Gauff Looks For French Open Redemption

Saturday’s French Open final will see the world No.1 and No. 2 players face each other on the Parisian clay for the first time in more than a decade.

The World No. 1 and World No. 2 last faced off for a major trophy at the 2018 Australian Open, where Caroline Wozniacki defeated Simona Halep, and in Paris back in 2013, when Maria Sharapova defeated Serena Williams.

Gauff said the experience of losing to Swiatek three years ago gave her fresh perspective.

“Everybody is dealing with way bigger things in life than losing a final,” she said.

“I’m sure there are hundreds of players that would kill to win or lose a final, so just knowing that, making me realize how lucky and privileged I am to be in this position.

“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. So knowing, regardless of the result, the sun will still rise,” Coco Gauff added.