Coco Gauff wins first Grand Slam doubles title with Katerina Siniakova in dream team debut

PARIS—Third time’s the charm, a beaming Coco Gauff reminds to everyone inside Court Philippe Chatrier.

The 20-year-old has added Grand Slam doubles champion to her resume after a dream Roland Garros team debut with Katerina Siniakova.

With planned Olympic partner Jessica Pegula still recovering from injury, Gauff wasn’t sure any events beyond singles were in the cards for her at the clay-court major. When Siniakova—holder of a Career Golden Slam in women’s doubles—reached out two days before the tournament started looking for a partner, Gauff took up the Czech’s offer to join forces.

On Sunday, it culminated with the two lifting the trophy. Gauff and Siniakova defeated 11th seeds Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini, 7-6 (5), 6-3. The No. 5 seeds rallied from 3-5 down in the tiebreak and served out the championship after converting their fifth break of the day.

“I think it's just one of those things that when you least expect it to happen, it happens,” Gauff told press following the victory. “Same thing, US Open, when I won it, I didn't expect to win. I was having a really bad year. Then here, I didn't even expect to play.

“I think it's funny how life teaches you those lessons that sometimes it's better just to be relaxed and the good things will happen.”

Gauff had previously finished runner-up in this event two years ago with Pegula and was also a finalist at the 2021 US Open alongside Caty McNally. Siniakova improved to 8-2 in major finals, winning her last six in a row. This marked the 28-year-old's first triumph without Barbora Krejcikova by her side.

Now a three-time champion in the French capital, Siniakova felt the duo’s ability to come together so quickly was a result of their combined experience and being well-acquainted with each other’s games.

“We kind of needed to figure out how the other one is playing, but I don't think, or from my side, that we had a problem with it. We really trusted each other, and I think the combination was working really well,” she said.

“Of course when we won two, three matches, it was really helping and we got the confidence.”

I think it's funny how life teaches you those lessons that sometimes it's better just to be relaxed and the good things will happen. —Coco Gauff

Like Siniakova and Gauff, Errani and Paolini also have aspirations of returning to the venue in seven weeks for Paris 2024.

“She asked me last year here in Roland Garros to play doubles together, to try to qualify for Olympics,” shared Paolini, who also reached the singles final. “We are different but I think we match very good. She's one of the best players, I think, at the net, and I try to push from the baseline, to serve well. I think that's our key.”

Says Gauff about swapping surfaces, “I think for me, the grass to clay will be an easier transition than clay to grass, which is what we're used to.

“It only happens once every four years. It's just something you have to push through and you can think about your goals. The Olympics aren't mandatory, so if you don't want to play you don't have to. I know we both want to play.”