As the 2025 French Open came to a dramatic close, Iga Swiatek took a moment to show grace in defeat, sharing a heartfelt tribute to new champions Coco Gauff and Carlos Alcaraz that deeply moved fans—and Gauff herself.
Swiatek, who entered Roland Garros chasing a historic fourth consecutive title, saw her dream cut short in the semifinals by Aryna Sabalenka in a tightly contested battle: 7-6(1), 4-6, 6-0. Sabalenka’s victory set up a high-stakes final against Coco Gauff, who ultimately clinched her first French Open crown with a gutsy 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4 win.
Despite the heartbreak of missing out on history, Swiatek showed the poise of a champion. In a reflective Instagram post, she expressed gratitude for her journey in Paris and shared her excitement for the upcoming grass season.
“Thank you Paris and @rolandgarros! It’s been an amazing time on and off the court with some great challenges and high-quality matches. I’m very proud of the work we put together with my team and I definitely learned some lessons. Every year in Paris gives me an energy boost for the rest of the season,” Swiatek wrote, before noting she would begin her grass-court preparations “very, very soon.”
What truly stood out, however, was her elegant gesture toward her peers. Swiatek gave a shoutout to both Gauff and Alcaraz, applauding their brilliant form throughout the tournament.
“Congrats @cocogauff and @carlitosalcarazz for your 🏆 and guys… what an absolutely mesmerizing tennis we’ve seen from both of you. Wow,” she added.
Coco Gauff, clearly touched by the message, replied with simple sincerity:
“Thank you so much iga:)!”
What’s Next for Gauff, Swiatek, and Alcaraz?
With Roland Garros now behind them, all three stars will soon be back on the court. Coco Gauff is scheduled to compete at the Berlin Tennis Open starting June 16, joining fellow contenders Aryna Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula, and Jasmine Paolini.
Iga Swiatek will make her grass-court debut for the season at the Bad Homburg Open beginning June 22, aiming to fine-tune her game ahead of Wimbledon.
Carlos Alcaraz, who dazzled fans en route to his French Open victory, will enjoy a short break in Ibiza before returning to action at the Queen’s Club Championships on June 16.
All three players are expected to headline the upcoming Wimbledon Championships kicking off on June 30. Alcaraz will be looking to claim his third straight title at SW19, while Gauff and Swiatek are hungry for their maiden grass-court Slam.
From fierce rallies to gracious words, the French Open may be over, but the class and camaraderie continue to shine through.
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