Rennae Stubbs criticises some fans for what they’re saying about Coco Gauff’s French Open final win over Aryna Sabalenka

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Coco Gauff was a class above in Paris, winning her first Roland Garros title.

The American star had come close to French Open glory three years earlier, when she lost to Iga Swiatek in the 2022 final.

Reaching the quarterfinals in 2023 and the semi-finals in 2024, Gauff returned to the championship match in 2025 and wasn’t prepared to let the opportunity slip through her fingers.

In three tight sets, Gauff defeated Aryna Sabalenka, 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 to clinch her second Major title.

One of the big talking points after the match was the number of unforced errors Sabalenka made.

Taking to X, a former WTA doubles number one criticised fans who were taking away from Gauff’s win by focusing on the Belarusian’s mistakes.

Rennae Stubbs criticises some fans for focusing on Aryna Sabalenka’s unforced errors

Australian tennis legend Rennae Stubbs was frustrated by hearing fans focus on Sabalenka’s unforced error count, as she explained why the 27-year-old made so many mistakes.

“For the people out there saying, well, it’s because [Aryna] Sabalenka made 70 unforced errors. The reason she made so many is because she’s playing the best defender and athlete in the game,” she said.

“On top of Coco’s [Gauff] spin on her forehand and her power on her backhand, and her ability to make one more ball!”

She continued on, detailing how the American made Sabalenka ‘panic’ during the French Open final.

“It’s clay, and clay is about controlled aggression, and Coco used that to her advantage and didn’t panic, and her composure won her that match,” said Stubbs.

“She served well under pressure, and Sabalenka pressed way too much, because she knew it would come back and it got to her, and she panicked.”

Stubbs believed that in the windy conditions on Court Philippe Chatrier, it was the ‘better competitor’ who won.

“It was windy and difficult conditions, and Coco handled it better because she made more balls,” she said.

“Again, that’s clay and tennis. The semis indoors helped Sabalenka hit her strokes and serve with no wind.

“Today, the better competitor won.”

The 54-year-old had been one of the first to congratulate Gauff on social media when she converted the second of her two match points to win the title.

“Unbelievable, Coco, unbelievable,” said Stubbs.

“Composure, guts, speed, tenacity, ground strokes, no words. No words… Handled the pressure moments so well today.

“The serve held up, huge props to her team, her parents and more importantly, herself. Damn!

“Coco Gauff, French Open champ.”

Coco Gauff chases down Aryna Sabalenka’s Grand Slam tally

With her French Open victory, Gauff became the seventh active player in the women’s game to have won multiple Grand Slam titles.

The 21-year-old now trails her rival Sabalenka by just the one Major, as she no doubt plans to level things up before too long.

Gauff will have her first shot at Grand Slam number three when she travels to London for Wimbledon at the end of the month.

The American will need to find another gear on the grass if she wants to win the title, however, having never before reached the quarterfinals on her five previous visits to the All England Club.

• 2024 Wimbledon – Coco Gauff lost in 4R to Emma Navarro, 4-6, 3-6
• 2023 Wimbledon – Coco Gauff lost in 1R to Sofia Kenin, 4-6, 6-4, 2-6
• 2022 Wimbledon – Coco Gauff lost in 3R to Amanda Anisimova, 7-6, 2-6, 1-6
• 2021 Wimbledon – Coco Gauff lost in 4R to Angelique Kerber, 4-6, 4-6
• 2020 Wimbledon – NOT HELD
• 2019 Wimbledon – Coco Gauff lost in 4R to Simona Halep, 3-6, 3-6

On three occasions, Gauff has lost in the fourth round of Wimbledon, most recently falling to her fellow American Emma Navarro, 4-6, 3-6 in 2024.

She’ll certainly be hoping for a better showing in 2025, as she looks to pick up her second Grand Slam title of the year.

The 2025 Wimbledon tournament is scheduled to begin on Monday, June 30.