How a massive underdog run redefined the 2025 French Open
In short: While Coco Gauff claimed her first title in Paris, the real story lay in the historic, improbable ascent of a wildcard. From record-breaking win streaks to the oldest player to achieve a rare feat, the tournament delivered a series of statistical anomalies that shook the tennis world.
The 2025 French Open final featured a high-stakes clash between the world's top two players, a rarity not seen at a major since the 2018 Australian Open. Coco Gauff secured her first title on the Parisian clay, defeating Aryna Sabalenka with a score of 6–7(5–7), 6–2, 6–4. This victory was particularly significant as it served as a reversal of their Madrid final held just five weeks earlier, which Sabalenka had won. Sabalenka's run to the final was also historic, making her the first woman to reach three consecutive major finals since Serena Williams in 2016.
The tournament also marked the end of a dominant era for Iga Świątek. The three-time defending champion saw her 26-match winning streak at the event snapped in the semifinals by Sabalenka. While Świątek's streak ended, it remains the second-longest in the tournament's history, trailing only Chris Evert's 29 consecutive wins.
Perhaps the most remarkable narrative was the performance of Loïs Boisson. Entering the tournament ranked No. 361, the French wildcard became the first local woman to reach the semifinals since Marion Bartoli in 2011. Her run was statistically unprecedented; she was the lowest-ranked major semifinalist since Justine Henin's unranked run at the 2010 Australian Open. Boisson joined an elite group of only three women in the Open Era to reach a major semifinal on their main-draw singles debut, alongside Monica Seles and Jennifer Capriati.
Other notable milestones included Victoria Azarenka, who at 35 years and 299 days old, became the oldest woman in the Open Era to record a double bagel in a major singles match. Additionally, the tournament saw Alexandra Eala make history as the first Filipina to compete in a major main draw.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2025 French Open – Women's singles
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