Mats Wilander suggests what could happen to Coco Gauff at Grand Slams now after her French Open title win

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Coco Gauff secured the French Open title for the first time in her career after beating Aryna Sabalenka in the final.

Sabalenka said Gauff moved really well in their match at Court Philippe-Chatrier, which the American won 6-7(5-7), 6-2, 6-4.

Gauff needed two hours and 38 minutes to beat Sabalenka, in a match which saw the WTA number one lose to the WTA number two.

American ace Gauff said it was ‘not a day for great tennis’, with the windy conditions having played a significant role in the French Open final.

But she now has a first clay court Grand Slam title and a second career Grand Slam title, having denied Sabalenka a fourth Grand Slam success.

Mats Wilander makes Aryna Sabalenka claim after French Open final loss to Coco Gauff

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Mats Wilander has now shared his verdict on the final, having been left somewhat surprised by Sabalenka’s attitude.

Speaking of the Belarusian, he said on TNT Sports: “Well I think that she was trying to play perfect tennis.

READ MORE: Lindsay Davenport tells Aryna Sabalenka the reason why she lost to Coco Gauff in the Roland Garros final, ‘it cost her’

“She always is, but in these kinds of conditions, you can’t really play perfect tennis. And I didn’t really see that she had certain tactics in the match.

“It was just trying to play Sabalenka tennis, and it’s impossible to do that against Coco Gauff, because she moves so well and she defends so well, and in this wind you just can’t do that.

“So I think she was way too hard on herself, and she was way too hard on herself even in the trophy ceremony.

“I mean, she had a great tournament, and I thought she was past this kind of attitude, but she clearly is not.

“And I can understand the frustration, but at the same time as the number one in the world, I think she nearly beat herself to a certain point.”

Mats Wilander suggests what could happen to Coco Gauff after French Open title

Sabalenka said she didn’t handle herself well mentally in her defeat to Gauff, which represents her second successive Grand Slam final defeat.

Looking to defend her Australian Open title from 2024, the world number one lost this year’s final in Melbourne to Madison Keys.

READ MORE: Chris Evert has strong response to Aryna Sabalenka’s controversial comments in her post-match speech, ‘I was like wow’

And it is also a second Grand Slam final defeat to Gauff, who won their 2023 US Open final on home soil in New York.

Continuing his assessment on their latest clash, former world number one Wilander said: “But Coco Gauff was absolutely brilliant.

“She didn’t let the first set affect her, except in a positive way, which is hard when you lose at 7-6, so Coco Gauff deserves everything.

“It’s harder to win your second Grand Slam than it is your first one, now I think the floodgates have opened for Coco Gauff and she’s going to win many more. Definitely the start of something bigger than even now.”