Following her triumph at this year’s Roland-Garros, Coco Gauff shared a powerful and inspirational note she wrote to herself before securing her second Grand Slam title. The World No. 2 fulfilled the promise of that note by defeating No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in a thrilling three-set final on Saturday, marking a significant milestone in her career.

Coco Gauff’s Emotional French Open Victory and Its Backstory

Gauff posted the motivational note on Instagram, revealing it was sparked by a dream she had back in June 2021, when she envisioned herself winning the French Open one day. Since then, Roland-Garros has become a tournament of consistent achievement for her, as she has reached at least the quarterfinals each year over the past five seasons. Her journey includes making the semifinals three times and appearing in the finals twice before finally claiming the title in 2025.

The Role of Self-Belief and Inspiration from Olympic Champion Gabby Thomas

The note referenced inspiration drawn from U.S. sprinter Gabby Thomas, a triple Olympic gold medalist who excelled in Paris last summer by winning the 200m, 4x100m relay, and 4x400m relay. Thomas has spoken openly about the importance of positive self-talk in building confidence, sharing how she repeatedly wrote down affirmations of her championship before and during the Olympics to visualize her victory.

I am building my self-talk. I’m building my confidence in that moment. I am telling myself that I am already the Olympic champion,

Thomas said.

I wrote down over and over every morning, while I was in Paris, that I will be the Olympic champion—in my notes app—over and over and I envisioned the race all day, every day, imagining myself winning and crossing the line in front.

—Gabby Thomas, Olympic Gold Medalist

This positive mindset helped Thomas secure her victories, and it has evidently influenced Gauff as well. Gauff’s faith in herself has led her to become a two-time Grand Slam winner, having also beaten Sabalenka in the 2023 US Open final.

Looking Ahead: Gauff’s Ambitions Beyond Roland-Garros

At just 21 years old, Gauff has already built an impressive career with multiple Grand Slam finals and significant wins. With the momentum gained from her Roland-Garros success, she is now turning her focus towards Wimbledon, where she will have the opportunity to capture her third major title next month and continue to establish herself as one of the sport’s leading figures.