Aryna Sabalenka lost the 2025 French Open final despite a strong start, surrendering to second-ranked Coco Gauff in three sets: 7:6(5), 2:6, 4:6.
The world number one Belarusian initially dominated the championship match, racing to a 4-1 lead and claiming the first set in a tiebreak. However, her game deteriorated dramatically afterward.
Sabalenka's aggressive approach backfired in the second set, where she committed a staggering 19 unforced errors. Her risky style continued to produce mistakes while Gauff found her rhythm, playing with remarkable composure and consistency.
The 27-year-old Belarusian showed little resistance in the second set, falling 2:6. In the decisive third set, Sabalenka dropped her serve twice and couldn't manage a single break point against Gauff's service games, ultimately losing 4:6.
Interestingly, this marks Sabalenka's second Grand Slam final defeat to Gauff in two years. Despite her world number one ranking, the Belarusian still lacks a Roland Garros title in her collection.
The match lasted just over two hours. Can Sabalenka overcome this psychological barrier against Gauff in future Grand Slam encounters? That remains the big question for the Belarusian star.
