French Open singles runner-up Jasmine Paolini faced another tough loss in the women’s doubles final on Sunday. Paolini and her partner, Sara Errani, were defeated 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 by Coco Gauff and Katerina Siniakova.
Coco Gauff, who recently won the US Open singles title, celebrated her first Grand Slam doubles victory. The 20-year-old American had previously reached the finals in doubles at the 2021 US Open and the 2022 French Open without securing the title.
Katerina Siniakova, at 28, added an eighth Grand Slam doubles title to her name and her third at Roland Garros. The majority of her doubles victories have been alongside her fellow Czech, Barbora Krejcikova.
Reflecting on her defeat, Paolini said, “Today is tough to accept.” She had been defeated in straight sets by world number one Iga Swiatek in the singles final just a day before.
Gauff’s participation in the doubles was unexpected, as she teamed up with Siniakova after her usual partner, Jessica Pegula, withdrew due to injury. “I definitely didn’t think it would happen to me,” Gauff admitted, especially after having lost in the singles semifinals to Swiatek.
Gauff expressed her surprise and joy at the win, stating, “I think that was one of the few times in my life after I lost the first two finals, I thought, well, ‘Okay, I reached that point, maybe I should focus on singles.’ It’s just one of those things that when you least expect it to happen, it happens.”
