Coco Gauff Repeats ESPY Win For Best Tennis Player! Beats Sabalenka Again After French Open Glory

by Gee NY

Coco Gauff may have endured a shocking early exit from Wimbledon this year, but the 21-year-old tennis star reminded the world why she’s still at the top of her game, this time off the court.

Gauff was crowned Best Tennis Player for the second consecutive year at the 2025 ESPY Awards, held on Wednesday, July 16, at The Dolby Theater in Los Angeles.

The glitzy event, hosted by comedian Shane Gillis, honored athletic excellence across a variety of sports, with standouts like Simone Biles, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and the Philadelphia Eagles taking home major honors. But it was Gauff’s repeat win—edging out rival and World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka—that highlighted the evening’s celebration of tennis.

From Roland Garros to the Red Carpet

Despite an “underwhelming” season overall, Gauff’s stunning victory at the French Open in June clearly tipped the scales in her favor. The triumph at Roland Garros, where she lifted her second career Grand Slam, solidified her standing among tennis greats and impressed ESPY voters enough to earn her the accolade again.

The back-to-back ESPY win echoes her 2024 success, when she also beat Sabalenka to the top spot following her WTA Finals victory.

At the time, Gauff expressed her gratitude on X, writing, “Apparently I won an ESPY. Thank you. I am super grateful! I wish I could’ve attended! Thank you to everyone who voted.”

A Wimbledon Setback, But Eyes on the US Open

The award comes just weeks after Gauff’s disappointing first-round exit at Wimbledon, where she was stunned by Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska in straight sets (7-6(3), 6-1). The loss, which shocked fans and analysts alike, came on the heels of her French Open success—leading many to expect a deeper grass-court run.

“I definitely was struggling in the locker room. I don’t like losing,” Gauff admitted after the match. “I just feel a little bit disappointed in how I showed up today.”

But the ESPY honor may be just what Gauff needs to refocus as the hardcourt season ramps up, culminating in the US Open later this summer—a title she memorably won at age 19 in 2023. Though she only reached the fourth round last year, losing to fellow American Emma Navarro, Gauff has made it clear she’s aiming for redemption.

“I definitely want to look at other things because I don’t want to lose matches like this anymore,” she said after last year’s Open.

With the 2025 US Open on the horizon, Gauff will look to channel her ESPY momentum into on-court dominance once again. And if history is any indication, she thrives when the spotlight is brightest.

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