Privileged Coco Gauff eyes French Open crown against world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka

PARIS – Coco Gauff said she will try to downplay the magnitude of the French Open final against Aryna Sabalenka on June 7 and learn from her runner-up finish at Roland Garros three years ago.

The 21-year-old American swept into her third Grand Slam singles final with a 6-1, 6-2 win that put an abrupt end to surprise French hero Lois Boisson’s improbable run in Paris.

Gauff lost the 2022 French Open final to Polish star Iga Swiatek before beating Sabalenka a year later to capture her first Major title at the US Open.

She believes she is a much more confident player than the teenager beaten in her maiden Grand Slam final.

“My first final here I was super nervous, and I kind of wrote myself off before the match even happened,” said Gauff, the world No. 2 behind Sabalenka of Belarus.

“Obviously now I have a lot more confidence just from playing a Grand Slam final before and doing well in one. I think going into Saturday I’ll just give it my best shot and try to be as calm and relaxed as possible.”

Gauff said that the experience of losing to Swiatek three years ago gave her fresh perspective she hopes will serve her well for the June 7 showpiece.

“Everybody is dealing with way bigger things in life than losing a final,” she added.

“I’m sure there are hundreds of players that would kill to win or lose a final, so just knowing that, making me realise how lucky and privileged I am to be in this position.

“At first I thought it would be the end of the world if I lost, and you know, the sun still rose the next day. So knowing, regardless of the result, the sun will still rise.”

The American