PARIS — Drawing on the painful memory of her defeat three years ago in the French Open final gave Coco Gauff just the motivation she needed to win the clay-court major for the first time. The 21-year-old American defeated top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4 on Saturday for her second Grand Slam title, two years after winning the U.S. Open.

Coco Gauff came to Paris chasing a lifelong dream, and now the 21-year-old American has carved her place in history. A teary-eyed Gauff held off world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 at the French Open Final in one of her finest career performances to capture her second Grand Slam in memorable fashion.

World No. 1 Sabalenka bemoaned the conditions and her own “terrible” play after losing the French Open final to Coco Gauff.