PARIS — Drawing on the painful memory of her defeat three years ago in the French Open final gave Coco Gauff just the motivation she needed to win the clay-court major for the first time. The 21-year-old American defeated top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4 on Saturday for her second Grand Slam title, two years after winning the U.S. Open.

It was the first No. 1 vs. No. 2 final in Paris since 2013, when Serena Williams defeated Maria Sharapova, and just the second in the last 30 years.

Coco Gauff came to Paris chasing a lifelong dream, and now the 21-year-old American has carved her place in history. A teary-eyed Gauff held off world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 at the French Open Final in one of her finest career performances to capture her second Grand Slam in memorable fashion.