Coco Gauff achieves career first as she wins French Open doubles after late decision two days before tournament
Coco Gauff got over the disappointment of losing in the French Open singles semi-final by winning the doubles tournament.
Gauff lost to eventual champion Iga Swiatek in straight sets, but still had eyes on another prize.
She had made it through to the final of the women’s doubles alongside Katerina Siniakova.
Usually Gauff plays with fellow American Jessica Pegula, but her injury forced the 20-year-old to find a new partner.
Gauff and Pegula lost in the 2022 French Open doubles final, but the former has found success with a new teammate.
Her and Siniakova defeated Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani 7-6 (5) 6-3 to claim the title.
It was double disappointment for Paolini, who had lost the singles final to Swiatek on Saturday.
Gauff is now a Grand Slam champion in both singles and doubles, having claimed her maiden Slam at the US Open in 2023.
The 20-year-old is the youngest player to win Grand Slam singles and doubles titles since Svetlana Kuznetsova in 2005.
Gauff was not even going to play in the doubles until a late decision on the eve of the tournament starting.
Speaking on court, Gauff said: “This is my third final, so third time’s a charm.
“First of all, thanks to Katarina. We decided two days before the tournament to play together. It was very last minute and I wasn’t planning on playing doubles.
“Congratulations to Sara and Jasmine, you’ve had a great tournament. We played against each other in Rome and hopefully we will play against each other in the Olympics.
“Thank you to my team, and Katarina’s dad, it’s been a fun two weeks in singles and doubles.
“I know it’s been long and we are ready to have fun.”
Gauff is now likely to scale back her doubles involvement, having hinted at that earlier in the week.
“I don’t think long,” Gauff told reporters when asked how long she wants to keep playing doubles.
“I have doubles tomorrow and I have a great partner and I feel like we have a good shot to win.
“I really want to win a doubles slam because, I don’t want to say close that chapter of my career, but it’s something that once I do it, I don’t know if I will continue to chase more. I’m not saying I won’t play doubles. So I’m focused on that.”
For Siniakova, it was her eighth Grand Slam doubles title and the third time she has won the French Open.
Now Gauff will have eyes on Wimbledon in July and then the Olympics later in the summer.
