Source :- THE AGE NEWS
By Eugene Allen and Simon Briggs
Coco Gauff lifted her maiden French Open title on Saturday afternoon and then told reporters that she hoped to be a “reflection of hope and light” for “people that look like me in America”.
Gauff, who also won the US Open in 2023, is the seventh woman of colour to become a major tennis champion. One of the most politically engaged players on the modern tour, she feels a deep responsibility to the African-American community.
“Obviously there’s a lot going on in our country right now,” Gauff said. “I remember after the election, it kind of felt [like a] down period. My mum told me during [November’s WTA Finals in] Riyadh, ‘Just try to win the tournament just to give something for people to smile for’. So that’s what I was thinking about today when holding that [trophy].
“And then seeing the flags in the crowd means a lot. I’m definitely patriotic and proud to be American, and I’m proud to represent the Americans that look like me and people who support the things that I support.”
Now 21, Gauff displayed her commitment to the Black Lives Matter cause five years ago. During a speech at a protest rally, she told her audience that “If you are choosing silence, you are choosing the side of the oppressor.”
Since then, Gauff has become arguably the most articulate and interesting interviewee on the tennis tour – and yet her press conference on Saturday evening may not have been the most interesting of the night.
An hour or so earlier, Gauff’s defeated opponent Aryna Sabalenka had told reporters that Gauff’s 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 victory – which delivered her second major trophy – was some sort of flukey act of God.
Coco Gauff of the US plays a shot against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus.Credit: AP
Asked why she had struggled so much in a gusting wind on Court Philippe Chatrier, Sabalenka replied “Honestly sometimes it felt like she [Gauff] was hitting the ball from the frame … like somebody from above was just staying there laughing, like, ‘Let’s see if you can handle this.’
“It was a joke, for real,” Sabalenka added. “When she would hit the ball, at some point the wind would just, like, let the ball fly like crazy, and you know, I was late every time.”
Warming to her theme, Sabalenka even suggested that she had done Gauff a favour by removing defending champion Iga Swiatek from her path at the semi-final stage. “If Iga would win [against] me another day, I think she would go out today and she would get the win.”
Asked about this last comment, Gauff replied “I don’t agree with that. I’m sitting here [with the trophy]. No shade to Iga or anything, but last time I played her, I won in straight sets. Yeah, I don’t think that’s a fair thing to say, because anything can really happen.”
To give Sabalenka some credit, her comments were at least honest and authentic – and much less boring than the usual platitudes. Yet they do run the risk of riling Gauff, who is the world No 2 and thus a likely opponent in many upcoming events.
Sabalenka was clearly still steaming when she came into the interview room, only half-an-hour or so after the presentation ceremony.
She bemoaned “the worst tennis I’ve played in the last I don’t know how many months,” adding “I think I was overemotional…I think she won the match not because she played incredible, just because I made all of those mistakes from…easy balls.”
The statistics bear her out, in that they credited – or rather debited – Sabalenka with a grisly 70 unforced errors. Yet this was still a fun watch, because of the shifting momentum and the contrasting patterns of play. In between the howlers, there were some stylish all-court rallies.
Aryna Sabalenka cries after losing the final.Credit: AP
Sabalenka had started brilliantly, as she took a 4-1 lead that showed off all the extra dimensions she has added to her game.
Many opponents would have been intimidated by such a commanding display, but Gauff is renowned for being the most implacable competitor on the tour.
She worked her way into the contest, using her heavy topspin to loop balls towards Sabalenka’s baseline. It posed an awkward question: should Sabalenka retreat? Or should she gamble by swinging hard at what became deep half-volleys?
There was only ever likely to be one answer, because Sabalenka – the woman who wears the tiger tattoo on her forearm – prides herself on being the queen of the jungle. She went all-or-nothing, and coughed up all those unforced errors.
Gauff’s two major trophies have both been sealed in finals against Sabalenka. Just like at the 2023 US Open, Gauff drove her more powerful opponent to distraction with her court coverage and mental resilience.
London Daily Telegraph
