The Belarusian player says she assured Gauff that "she absolutely deserved to win the tournament and that I respect her"

Coco Gauff became the first American to win the French Open women's title since Serena Williams after beating top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in three sets on Saturday. It is her first French Open title and her second major overall.

Gauff won her first Roland Garros title by playing the conditions and the occasion with more evenness than Sabalenka.