ROLAND GARROS. Paris. By Emiliano Naftali
Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff advanced through their respective semifinal matches and will meet in the final of the second Grand Slam of the season.
The first to secure her spot in the final was Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, the current World No. 1, who stunned three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek (WTA No. 5) with a hard-fought 7-6 (1), 4-6, 6-0 victory. Sabalenka now eyes the fourth Grand Slam title of her career, having already won the Australian Open in 2023 and 2024, and the US Open in 2024. So far in 2025, she has lifted the trophies in Madrid and Miami (WTA 1000), as well as Brisbane and Stuttgart (WTA 500), and reached the finals of the Australian Open and Indian Wells.
Later, American star Coco Gauff (World No. 2) ended the dream run of French sensation Lois Boisson (No. 361), defeating her 6-1, 6-2. Gauff is seeking redemption after her 2022 Roland Garros final loss to Swiatek, which left her just shy of her first Grand Slam title.
Over the years, Roland Garros has delivered some of the most iconic women’s finals in tennis history. From Steffi Graf’s classic battles in the late 1980s to the emotional triumph of Justine Henin in 2003, and the dominance of Swiatek in recent editions, the clay of Paris has often set the stage for legendary showdowns. The 2020 final, for instance, saw Swiatek claim her maiden Grand Slam with a brilliant performance against Sofia Kenin, while in 2001, Jennifer Capriati and Kim Clijsters played one of the most dramatic finals ever, with Capriati edging it 12-10 in the third set.
Now, with two contrasting styles—Sabalenka’s raw power versus Gauff’s athleticism and tenacity—the 2025 final promises to write another unforgettable chapter in the history of women’s tennis at Roland Garros.