Coco Gauff Discovers French Open’s Little-Known Trophy Rule on Private Jet
After her thrilling 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4 victory over Aryna Sabalenka in the French Open 2025 women’s final on June 7, Coco Gauff was disappointed to learn of a lesser-known Roland Garros rule: champions cannot take the actual Coupe Suzanne Lenglen trophy home. Instead, Gauff was given a miniature replica, which she humorously showcased in a TikTok video filmed on a private jet back to the U.S., saying, “The trophy you saw me take pictures with… we don’t get to take that home. It stays with the tournament,” per www.themirror.com. She placed the replica, only slightly taller than a Perrier bottle, beside it for scale, laughing, “That’s how small it is… but it’s the memories that matter most,” per www.express.co.uk.
This rule, also applying to the men’s Coupe des Mousquetaires, ensures the iconic trophies remain at Roland Garros, a tradition Gauff was unaware of until after the ceremony, per www.gbnews.com. Despite the surprise, Gauff celebrated her $2.9 million prize and second Grand Slam title with a night out in Paris, later joking on TikTok, “Going out after winning a sporting event should be illegal,” citing dehydration and champagne, per www.the-independent.com. Fans on X, like @Pauline98476699, questioned if the rule was new, expressing surprise at the miniature’s size, per.[]
Gauff’s lighthearted response and focus on the “memories” reflect her resilience, especially after overcoming 2022’s tearful final loss to Iga Swiatek. Her win, the first by an American woman since Serena Williams in 2015, was a full-circle moment, per www.nbcnews.com. She now eyes Wimbledon (June 30-July 13), aiming to build on her clay-court triumph.
