In a moment that will echo through tennis history, 21-year-old Coco Gauff claimed her second Grand Slam title at the French Open, becoming the first American woman in a decade to lift the coveted trophy. Fresh off her victory, Gauff joined us in Times Square, radiating the same poise and resilience that carried her through an unforgettable fortnight in Paris.

As the crowd erupted in applause, Gauff—still processing the magnitude of her achievement—shared candid reflections on her journey, her mindset during the match, and the unwavering support system that has propelled her to the pinnacle of her sport.

A Champion’s Mindset: From Doubt to Destiny

When asked if her historic win had sunk in, Gauff admitted, “Not really. I’ve been on the go since everything happened after match point. I think it’ll take a couple of weeks to truly take it all in.” Her humility and honesty are as striking as her athleticism.

The French Open final was a microcosm of Gauff’s career: a story of setbacks, comebacks, and relentless self-belief. Down 1-4 in the first set and ultimately losing it in a tiebreak, Gauff stormed back to win the next two sets, drawing comparisons to her dramatic victory over Aryna Sabalenka at the US Open two years prior.

“In that first set, when I was down 4-1, I just thought, ‘Let me make it as competitive as possible,’” Gauff recounted. “Honestly, I didn’t expect to be in a position to win that set, but I had to give myself the best possible chance.” She drew strength from earlier in the week, recalling how she had come back from a double break down against Madison Keys in the quarterfinals. “I thought about that match,” she said. “After I lost the tiebreaker, I was disappointed, but I knew I had to reset.”

Her father’s words echoed in her mind: “Just give yourself an opportunity.” Her mother’s advice was similar: “Keep giving yourself a chance.” Gauff credits these mantras with helping her fight back “time and time again.”

Handling Criticism with Grace

No major victory comes without scrutiny. In the aftermath of the final, Gauff’s opponent, Aryna Sabalenka, initially attributed her loss to poor play rather than Gauff’s performance, citing the windy conditions. Sabalenka later walked back her comments, acknowledging Gauff’s poise and purpose.

Gauff responded with characteristic maturity. “I know she was probably emotional after a tough loss,” she said. “We both practiced with the roof closed, so I honestly wanted the roof closed before the match. When I found out it was open and saw how windy it was, I knew it was going to be an ugly win. When you play tennis in the wind, it’s never perfect.”

She continued, “I was a little surprised by the comments, but I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt. Every time I play Aryna, she’s a fighter. Our head-to-head is really close. I had to force her to play that way and put those balls on the court.”

Manifesting Victory: The Power of Visualization

Beyond physical preparation, Gauff credits her mental approach for her breakthrough. On Instagram, she wrote, “I learned having doubt enter your head is impossible to escape, but not impossible to overcome.” She revealed that, for the first time in her life, she had dreamt about winning a tournament—and specifically, the French Open.

“I never dreamt about winning a tournament before, and I still haven’t,” she laughed. “But that was the only time I had a dream about winning one. I thought this would be my first Grand Slam after that dream.”

Inspired by Olympic medalist Gabby Thomas, Gauff embraced visualization, writing down her goals and affirming them in the mirror before the match. “Even after the first set, I said, ‘I’ll be French Open champion. I will do this. I can do this.’ Sometimes you have to psych yourself out.”

In the semi-final against a French opponent, Gauff found herself chanting her own name as the crowd cheered for her rival. “I was just saying my name. In Rome, I played Jasmine Paolini in front of an Italian crowd and didn’t handle it well. Those hard losses gave me the experience I needed to overcome what happened this week.”

Learning from Defeat

Gauff’s journey has been shaped as much by setbacks as by triumphs. She posted a photo on social media of a painful defeat at the French Open two years ago, writing, “I needed that defeat.”

Reflecting on that loss, Gauff said, “I went into that match believing I couldn’t do it. I was playing the number one player in the world, Iga Swiatek, and I just felt like I couldn’t do it—and I played like that. This time, I told myself, ‘I can’t count myself out. I’m number two for a reason.’ I learned to let myself feel the disappointment, use it as motivation, and believe I could do it.”

Family and Community: The Heart of Gauff’s Success

Throughout her rise, Gauff’s family has been her anchor. Her parents and brothers have supported her from day one, sacrificing their own time and comfort to nurture her dreams. “The support I have is amazing, especially from my parents,” Gauff said. “They’ve sacrificed so much, traveling with me, and my brothers have given up time with our parents so they could be there for me in big moments.”

Tennis can be a lonely sport, with weeks spent in different countries and little time at home. But Gauff’s family keeps her grounded. “Every night, we play a card game called Crowns. My dad lost every single game this week,” she laughed. “But every time I won, I thought, ‘Maybe I’ll win my match tomorrow.’ My brothers remind me to believe in myself and find joy in what I do.”

The Delray Beach community, where Gauff grew up, has also been a constant source of support. Videos of her grandmother and local ball kids celebrating her win went viral, underscoring the deep connections she maintains with her roots.

Looking Ahead

With Wimbledon just weeks away, Gauff is determined to savor her French Open triumph before turning her focus to the next Grand Slam. “Everyone’s told me to take it in and soak it up. When it’s time, I’ll get back to work and start training for Wimbledon. But for now, I’m enjoying the moment.”

As she left our studio, Gauff held a small replica of the French Open trophy, a symbol of her hard-won victory. “The memories are what matter most,” she said. “You can fill that up with a lot of memories.”

In Coco Gauff, the world sees not just a champion, but a role model—one whose courage, humility, and joy inspire on and off the court. As she continues her remarkable journey, one thing is certain: this is only the beginning.