After a stunning comeback victory at the French Open, Coco Gauff was riding high, until she discovered a quirky tradition that left her fans both laughing and surprised.
The 21-year-old American tennis star earned her second Grand Slam title on Saturday by defeating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in a dramatic three-set match. Gauff dropped the first set in a tense tiebreak but stormed back to win the next two 6-2 and 6-4, becoming the first woman not named Iga Swiatek to win at Roland Garros since 2021.
But Gauff’s celebration hit a humorous snag shortly after the trophy ceremony.
A Tiny Surprise For Coco Gauff on the Plane
In a TikTok video recorded on her private jet, Gauff revealed that winners don’t get to keep the real Coupe Suzanne Lenglen. Instead, they’re given a much smaller replica.
“The trophy that you guys saw me take pictures with and do press with… we don’t get to take that home,” she said with a laugh. Holding up the miniature prize next to a Perrier bottle, Gauff joked, “That’s how small it is.”
Her reaction to the rule was good-natured:
“It’s the memories that matter most.”
A Night Out in Paris
Despite the trophy twist, Gauff made the most of her win with a celebration in Paris.
“Going out after winning a sporting event should be illegal,” she joked in another TikTok. “You’re emotional, dehydrated, starving, and then they put champagne in my hand… Of course I’m going out bad. I had fun tho; we upppppppp.”
This French Open title follows her 2023 U.S. Open win and marks a personal comeback, especially after her emotional 2022 loss to Swiatek in the final.
Sabalenka Reacts to the Loss
Runner-up Aryna Sabalenka didn’t hide her frustration, calling it the worst tennis she’d played in months. “I didn’t handle myself well,” she admitted. “She won not because she played incredible, but because I made all those mistakes.”
With her second major in the bag and a sense of humor intact, Coco Gauff is proving that she’s not just a champion on the court. But a fan favorite off of it too.
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