U.S. tennis superstar Coco Gauff has become the youngest player in 19 years to win both a singles and doubles Grand Slam title.
The 2023 US Open singles champion partnered with Czech Katerina Siniakova to claim the 2024 French Open doubles crown on Sunday (9 June) by beating the Italian duo Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 in the final.
It is Gauff’s first Grand Slam title in doubles having lost the finals at the 2022 French Open and the 2021 US Open.
“It’s just one of those things that when you least expect it to happen, it happens,” said Gauff who lost in the singles semi-finals to eventual winner Iga Swiatek.
The 20-year-old and Siniakova, seeded fifth, were playing together for the first time as Gauff’s usual partner Jessica Pegula was forced to withdraw before the tournament with an injury.
“It was very last minute. I wasn’t planning on playing doubles, so thank you Katerina for asking me,” Gauff said. “We decided to do it two days before the tournament started.”
The new world No.2 in singles never lost her serve in the entire match. It was all over in one hour and 47 minutes.
Gauff was beaming with joy as she kissed the Coupe Simonne Mathieu, the winner’s trophy.
What a way to end the tournament, after she was moved to tears in her semi-final loss to Swiatek.