Aryna Sabalenka has reached her first Roland Garros final, setting up a match against Coco Gauff.
The top-ranked player has showcased exceptional form in Paris, delivering remarkable performances en route to the French Open final.
Throughout the tournament, she has defeated Kamilla Rakhimova, Jil Teichmann, Olga Danilovic, Amanda Anisimova, and Qinwen Zheng, all in straight sets to secure a spot in the semi-finals.
In the semi-finals, Sabalenka overcame Iga Swiatek in a hard-fought three-set match, winning 7-6, 4-6, 6-0, to secure her place in Saturday’s championship match against world number two, Gauff.
Insight from Sabalenka’s Coaches on Her On-Court Emotions
During a press conference prior to the final, coach Anton Dubrov was asked about Sabalenka’s tendency to shout at him during matches. He noted, “It varies. She can say anything and your response often doesn’t matter.” He explained that he might respond with a joke, anger, or straightforward instructions and emphasized that it’s crucial for Sabalenka to move past her frustrations quickly.
Dubrov remarked, “It’s important to focus on what she can control and to get back to her game as soon as possible. The key is acknowledging that stress can happen, but it’s about how quickly you can refocus.”
A Competitive Rivalry: Sabalenka vs. Gauff
Sabalenka and Gauff have faced each other ten times previously, with their head-to-head record tied at 5-5. In their only encounter this year, Sabalenka triumphed in the Madrid Open final, 6-3, 7-6, leveling their match record on clay to 1-1.
With both players having had their share of victories, predicting the outcome of their upcoming match is challenging. However, Sabalenka’s experience of holding three Grand Slam titles could give her an edge over Gauff, who has one Major title to her name.
As they prepare for their championship clash, fans can expect an electrifying match when Sabalenka faces Gauff on Saturday, June 7.
