Roland Garros Final: Aryna's influence clashes with Coco's ambition
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka is aiming to win her fourth Grand Slam title and her first at Roland Garros when she faces Coco Gauff in the French Open final on Saturday.
The 27-year-old Sabalenka will attempt to prove her ability to shine on all surfaces with her first title in Paris, having been seen by many as a hard-court specialist.
She has won back-to-back Australian Open titles in 2023 and 2024, as well as the US Open in 2024, but has never reached the final in Paris, where the slow clay courts are not suited to her powerful strokes.
However, she rose to another level with a three-set semifinal victory over four-time champion Iga Swiatek, who was bidding to become the first player in the professional era to win the title four consecutive times. The Belarusian player didn't change her power-hitting style or adapt to clay, but rather used it effectively to outsmart her opponent.
Although the closed roof slowed the ball, Sabalenka's serve was one of her most prominent weapons, and she clinched the third set against Swiatek, dubbed the "Queen of Clay," without dropping a game, halting the Polish player's 26-game winning streak.
Gauff, whose style is more suited to clay than Sabalenka's, will have to find solutions to deal with this power.
Gauff is looking to win her first singles title in Paris, having won the doubles title last year and lost the singles final in 2022. This is her second Grand Slam singles title, following her victory over Sabalenka at the 2023 US Open final. The American is no match for Sabalenka's power-of-serve or baseline shots, but she will rely on her athleticism, accurate shots, and ability to stay in the game. Gauff, who is adept at moving around the court, dropped only one set en route to the final and handled the pressure adeptly in her semifinal against France's Loïc Boisseau.