French Open 2025: Women's Final, Gauff vs Sabalenka Preview and Prediction

Someone's going to add another Grand Slam title to their legacy. Will Sabalenka win her fourth or Gauff her second?

The 2025 French Open women’s final is set. Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka will meet on Saturday morning on TNT (in the US). It’s a battle of No. 1 vs. No. 2 and a chance for one of these Grand Slam champions to win their first French Open title.

Sabalenka defeated Iga Swiatek, 7-6, 4-6, 6-0, and Gauff defeated Lois Boisson, 6-1, 6-2. Sabalenka ended Swiatek’s 26-match winning streak at Roland-Garros. Gauff ended Boisson’s fairytale French Open.

The usually unforced-error prone Gauff played a near flawless match against Boisson. Gauff had just two double faults and 15 unforced errors.

“She's going to have to bring stats like this (to the final) if she’s going to beat Sabalenka,” said TNT Sports commentator Sam Querrey. “I don't know if she can. Sabalenka hits the ball so hard and so big.”

Gauff and Sabalenka play contrasting styles. Sabalenka brings the heat with a powerful serve. She’s aggressive and can blast forehand winners all day. Gauff is one of the best athletes on the WTA Tour. A winner in doubles at the French Open last year, Gauff moves better on the clay, is more comfortable at the net, and has more variety than Sabalenka.

The two will remain No. 1 and No. 2 no matter what happens in the final and will take those rankings into Wimbledon. But each wants this French Open title badly.

With Swiatek winning four of the previous five times at Roland-Garros, for Gauff and Sabalenka, getting this trophy has almost been as tricky as Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic trying to win the French Open during the Rafael Nadal era.

Head-to-Head

Sabalenka and Gauff are even in the head-to-head at 5-5. They are also even in Majors 1-1. Their last meeting in a Major was the 2024 Australian Open semifinal, where Sabalenka defeated Gauff 7-6, 6-4. Sabalenka has won three of their last four. Their last meeting was in the final at the Madrid Open, where Sabalenka defeated Gauff 6-3, 7-6.

Sabalenka’s Road to the Final

Sabalenka cruised through her draw until the quarterfinals, when she faced 2024 Olympic Gold Medalist Qinwen Zheng. The first set went to a tiebreaker. Relentless as always, Sabalenka kept the pressure on Zheng's serve.

Sabalenka raced out to a 4-1 start in the semifinals before Swiatek forced a tiebreak. Sabalenka dominated the tiebreaker, 7-1. But Swiatek wasn't done. She began to frustrate Sabalenka with great defense and more aggressive play. Swiatek won the second set 6-4. But it was all Sabalenka in the third set, delivering a bagel to the bakery queen.

"Honestly it feels incredible, but also, I understand that the job is not done yet. I'm just thrilled with the performance today with this win," Sabalenka said after her win against Swiatek.

Players Sabalenka defeated on the way to the final:

Semifinals: No. 5 Iga Swiatek (Poland)

Quarterfinals: No. 8 Qinwen Zheng (China)

Fourth Round: No. 16 Amanda Anisimova (USA)

Third Round: Olga Danilovic (Serbia)

Second Round: Jil Teichmann (Switzerland)

First Round: Kamilla Rakhimova (Russia)

Gauff’s Road to the Final

Gauff made things easier for herself before the tournament when she secured the No. 2 ranking, assuring she'd land on the opposite side of Sabalenka.

But Gauff's first few rounds were plagued with unforced errors and shaky serving. In the quarterfinals, Gauff and Madison Keys combined for 101 unforced errors and just 40 winners. However, Gauff cleaned up her game in the third set and wore down big-hitting Keys.

In the semifinal, Gauff faced French favorite Boissom. Unlike Mirra Andreeva, who had a meltdown under the pressure of the French frenzy, Gauff gave the crowd nothing. She went about her business and even applauded Boisson's winners.

After the match, Gauff said she pretended the French fans were chanting her name when they were cheering for Boisson. It's one way she prepared herself mentally.

Players Gauff defeated on the way to the final:

Semifinals: Lois Boisson (French)

Quarterfinals: No. 7 Madison Keys (USA)

Fourth Round: No. 20 Ekaterina Alexandrova (Russia)

Third Round: Maria Bouzkova (Czech Republic)

Second Round: Tereza Valentova (Czech Republic)

First Round: Olivia Gadecki (New Zealand)

Possible Game Changers

So much of Gauff’s game begins and ends with her serve. Gauff doesn’t have a big serve like Sabalenka’s and doesn’t need one. However, she has to avoid double-digit double faults and 20-plus unforced errors. That’s easier said than done when playing someone who hits as hard and is as aggressive as Sabalenka.

The semifinals were played under a closed roof, which gave Sabalenka an advantage. The slower the conditions, the better for Gauff, one of the fastest players on tour.

Prediction

Sabalenka came into the tournament as one of the favorites to win. Her dominance over Swiatek in the final set will fuel her confidence against Gauff. To bagel Swiatek anywhere is impressive, but at Roland-Garros?

I’ll be rooting for Gauff, but I predict Sabalenka will win in three sets: 7-5, 4-6, and 6-3. I hope I’m wrong.

Who do you think will win?