Coco Gauff, fresh off her first French Open title, took to TikTok to unveil the truth behind the trophy that symbolizes her Grand Slam achievement. In a video shared on June 9, Gauff, 21, reflected on her victory over Aryna Sabalenka during the women’s final held on June 7.
“This is the trophy that you guys see, the one that we take pictures with, do press with and all that,” she stated, revealing a surprising fact: “Actually, we don’t get to take this home. This stays with the tournament.”
In a light-hearted moment, Gauff showcased the actual trophy she received—a much smaller replica of the one displayed during the ceremony at Court Philippe-Chatrier. Holding it aloft, she laughed, “It’s really small.”
For context, Gauff placed the miniature trophy next to a glass bottle of Perrier, highlighting its diminutive size as the bottle overshadowed it significantly. “It’s the memories that matter the most,” she remarked about the trophy. “It is very pretty and it is a miniature version of the real trophy. So, this is the one I get to take home.”
Fans reacted with surprise in the comments section, expressing disbelief that the champion does not keep the trophy seen on television. One user noted, “Wow, the real trophy is massive compared to the one you get to take home! But hey, memories last forever!”
Another comment read, “Something I don’t think many of us knew outside the world of professional tennis. In any case, as long as your name is spelled correctly engraved in The Hall of Champions and that check clears.”
Gauff’s victory was not without its share of controversy. Sabalenka, 27, faced backlash for her remarks post-match, describing it as “the worst final I have ever played” and attributing Gauff’s win to luck. “She was hitting the ball from the frame; somehow magically the ball lands in the court,” Sabalenka told reporters after Gauff’s 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 win. “It felt like a joke, honestly, like somebody from above was there laughing.”
In response to Sabalenka’s comments, Gauff stated, “I don’t agree with that.” She acknowledged Sabalenka’s recent performance and noted, “The way Aryna was playing the last few weeks, she was the favorite to win. So I think she was the best person that I could have played in the final.”
Sabalenka later sought to clarify her statements by congratulating Gauff on social media. “Yesterday was a tough one,” she shared via Instagram Story. “Coco handled the conditions much better than I did and fully deserved the win. She was the better player yesterday, and I want to give her the credit she earned.”
