Coco Gauff swept to a 2-6 6-3 6-2 victory over Aryna Sabalenka in the U.S. Open final to clinch her maiden U.S open trophy and third Grand Slam crown. Gauff, who is from Florida, is the first American teenager to win the country’s major tennis tournament since Serena Williams in 1999.

FACTS AND FIGURES

The French Open is played on clay, which owes its red colour to the crushed brick which forms the upper layer of the surface. There are three layers in all – one of limestone, one of clinker and one of stone – as well as drainage pipes. Clay is the slowest of surfaces. Along with the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open, the French Open is one of the four historic tennis tournaments which make up the legendary Grand Slam.

The four tournaments all being played on different surfaces: Plexi cushion in Australia, clay at Roland Garros, grass at Wimbledon and Decoturf at the US Open. The Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open are the four Grand Slam tournaments. The Grand Slam itinerary consists of the Australian Open in mid January, the French Open in May/June, Wimbledon in June/July, and the US Open in August/September.