Coco Gauff won her first grand slam doubles title on Sunday as the American and her playing partner Katerina Siniakova scored a straight sets victory in the French Open final.
Coco Gauff is a Grand Slam champion in singles and doubles, something she did not expect to happen so soon.The 20-year-old American won her first major doubles title
on Sunday by teaming with Katerina Siniakova for the French Open trophy. They
defeated Italians Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani 7-6 (5), 6-3, giving Gauff
her second major after winning the U.S. Open singles last year.
“I think it’s just one of those things that when you least
expect it to happen, it happens,” Gauff said, reflecting on her doubles
triumph.
Victory finally came for Gauff in her third women’s doubles
final, having been the runner-up in championship matches at Roland Garros in
2022 and the U.S. Open in 2021.
“After I lost the first two (doubles) finals, I thought,
well, okay, I reached that point, maybe I should focus on singles,” Gauff said.
"Same thing, U.S. Open. When I won it, I didn’t expect to win. I was
having a really bad year. Then here, I didn’t even expect to play. I think it’s
funny how life teaches you those lessons."
Gauff and Siniakova, who is from the Czech Republic, both
kissed the Coupe Simonne Mathieu — the winners' trophy.
“Third time’s a charm. Thank you, Katerina, for playing with
me. We decided two days before the tournament to play together,” Gauff said.
"Thank you to the fans. I know 11:30 Sunday morning is early for most
people. It’s early for me.”
The doubles final was held before the men's singles final
later Sunday between Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev.
“I would much rather play before the men’s final than after
it, because that could go seven hours. 11:30 was fine. It was just a joke,
because I don’t like waking up early," Gauff said. “I think it was good
the tournament scheduled us before that match.”
Paolini was also the runner-up in the singles final at
Roland Garros to four-time champion Iga Swiatek on Saturday. Swiatek beat Gauff
in the singles semifinal.
“The last two weeks were very nice, very emotional,” Paolini
said. “I have a lot of memories. I can’t wait to be back.”
Siniakova owns a career Slam in women's doubles alongside
partner Barbora Krejcikova and has won eight majors — including the French Open
in 2018 and 2021.
Errani also owns a career Slam in doubles alongside her
former partner Roberta Vinci. The Italian pair won the French Open title in
2012 — the year Errani lost the singles final.
“It’s really special to be in this court again. I don’t know
how many more years I have to play. But it’s always special to play these kinds
of matches,” the 37-year-old Errani said. “It will be special to play the
Olympics here in this place. So I’ll see you in one month.”
Paolini was playing in her first final in women's doubles.
Errani’s serve was broken twice in the first set, and
Paolini stayed on the baseline to compensate in the 11th game. The tactic
worked as Errani held serve.
Gauff and Siniakova took the first set when Errani’s volley
at the net went long and raced to a 4-1 lead in the second set, with Paolini
0-30 down on her serve.
The Italians fought back to 4-3 with a service game to
follow, but Errani’s serve was broken again and their momentum was lost.