Aryna Sabalenka has qualified for her first French Open final, as she looks to bring home the Suzanne-Lenglen Cup.
The WTA number one began her Roland Garros campaign in fine form, reaching the semi-finals without dropping a set.
It was there that Sabalenka was met with her toughest challenge yet, facing off against her biggest rival, Iga Swiatek.
In a tense semi-final tie, Sabalenka defeated Swiatek in three sets 7-6, 4-6, 6-0 to book her place in Saturday’s final.
The Belarusian will take on Coco Gauff in the final, who beat French Wild Card Lois Boisson in her semi-final match.
Ahead of Sabalenka and Gauff’s title showdown on Court Philippe Chatrier, Paul Annacone has sent the three-time Major champion a warning.
Paul Annacone says Coco Gauff’s defence will make Aryna Sabalenka ‘overplay’ in the final
Speaking on the Tennis Channel Live podcast, Roger Federer’s former coach Annacone previewed the French Open final.
“Before the tournament started, I did say Coco Gauff was going to win, I think,” said Annacone.
“I still think Coco is going to make her play. I think Coco is going to win on Saturday.
“I think her defence will make [Aryna] Sabalenka overplay. It’s really going to test her composure and patience.”
It’s tough to gauge who will have the edge on Saturday, as nothing could be done to separate the pair through ten career meetings.
| Match | Surface | Winner | Loser | Score |
| 2025 Madrid Open – F | Clay | Aryna Sabalenka | Coco Gauff | 6-3, 7-6 |
| 2024 WTA Finals – SF | Hard | Coco Gauff | Aryna Sabalenka | 7-6, 6-3 |
| 2024 Wuhan – SF | Hard | Aryna Sabalenka | Coco Gauff | 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 |
| 2024 Australian Open – SF | Hard | Aryna Sabalenka | Coco Gauff | 7-6, 6-4 |
| 2023 US Open – F | Hard | Coco Gauff | Aryna Sabalenka | 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 |
| 2023 Indian Wells – QF | Hard | Aryna Sabalenka | Coco Gauff | 6-4, 6-0 |
| 2022 Toronto – 3R | Hard | Coco Gauff | Aryna Sabalenka | 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 |
| 2021 Rome – 3R | Clay | Coco Gauff | Aryna Sabalenka | 7-5, 6-3 |
| 2020 Ostrava – 2R | Hard | Aryna Sabalenka | Coco Gauff | 1-6, 7-5, 7-6 |
| 2020 Lexington – 2R | Hard | Coco Gauff | Aryna Sabalenka | 7-6, 4-6, 6-4 |
With the head-to-head level at 5-5, it’s anyone’s guess who will emerge victorious in the French Open final.
Sabalenka may, however, be feeling more confident than her opponent, having just knocked out the three-time defending champion in the semi-finals.
Annacone believes Sabalenka’s win over Swiatek proved the 27-year-old is the best player in the world right now.
“It showed me and everybody that Sabalenka is the best player in the world so far this year,” he said.
“She has just been better than everyone, and to see her rebound after that second set, which very easily could have taken her a little bit of time to get going, was amazing.
“Zero unforced errors, power-play, hit right through the clay court surface. I think she is the best player on the planet this year.”
After dropping the second set 4-6, Sabalenka took her game to new heights in the third, winning 6-0, without making a single unforced error.
If she can carry that form through to the final, Gauff could well find herself in real trouble.
When did an American player last win the French Open?
When Gauff takes to the court on Saturday, she’ll do so looking to become the first American singles champion at Roland Garros in a decade.
Back in 2015, the legendary Serena Williams traveled to Paris as the number one seed, looking to win her third Roland Garros title, and did just that.
- 2015 French Open F – Serena Williams beat Lucie Safarova, 6-3, 6-7, 6-2
- 2015 French Open SF – Serena Williams beat Timea Bacsinszky, 4-6, 6-3, 6-0
- 2015 French Open QF – Serena Williams beat Sara Errani, 6-1, 6-3
- 2015 French Open 4R – Serena Williams beat Sloane Stephens, 1-6, 7-5, 6-3
- 2015 French Open 3R – Serena Williams beat Victoria Azarenka, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2
- 2015 French Open 2R – Serena Williams beat Anna-Lena Friedsam, 5-7, 6-3, 6-3
- 2015 French Open 1R – Serena Williams beat Andrea Hlavackova, 6-2, 6-3
Battling through five deciding sets, Williams finally clinched the title with a 6-3, 6-7, 6-2 win over Czechia’s Lucie Safarova.
American players contested four of the next nine finals, but failed to secure victory on all four occasions.
| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Score |
| 2022 | Iga Swiatek | Coco Gauff | 6-1, 6-3 |
| 2020 | Iga Swiatek | Sofia Kenin | 6-4, 6-1 |
| 2018 | Simona Halep | Sloane Stephens | 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 |
| 2016 | Garbine Muguruza | Serena Williams | 7-5, 6-4 |
Gauff was the last American player to lose a French Open final, falling to a convincing defeat at the hands of Swiatek in 2022.
The Pole allowed Gauff just four games as she clinched the second of her four Roland Garros titles.
The 21-year-old will no doubt hope for a better showing in her second French Open final, bidding to become the first American French Open champion since Williams ten years ago.
Sabalenka, on the other hand, will look to become the first Belarusian champion in the history of the French Open.
Only time will tell who will come out on top, but you won’t want to miss any of the action when Gauff takes on Sabalenka in the French Open final on Saturday, June 7.
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