Coco Gauff pens down hearts melt messages to fans as she wins first Grand Slam doubles title with Katerina Siniakova in dream team debut

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.