How Aryna Sabalenka Dethroned Iga Swiatek, and Coco Gauff Cracked Lois Boisson’s Cinderella Slipper

Well, well, well—if Paris is the city of love, then this week at Roland Garros has been pure heartbreak for top seeds and fairytale hopefuls alike. First came the shockwave: Aryna Sabalenka, with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer in a silk glove, stormed past clay queen Iga Swiatek and shook the foundations of the women’s game. Then, like a sequel nobody saw coming, Coco Gauff slammed the door shut on Lois Boisson’s Cinderella run with the precision of a Grand Slam veteran.

Let’s start with Sabalenka. For years, Swiatek has owned clay like a Parisian patisserie owns croissants—consistently, expertly, almost boringly. But Sabalenka came in hot, hungry, and hitting with that signature blend of power and poise. No longer the erratic baseliner of yesteryear, Aryna dictated rallies, stepped inside the baseline, and forced Iga onto the defensive—something rarely seen on red dirt. In short, she didn’t just beat Swiatek. She dethroned her.

Meanwhile, across the draw, the charming French wildcard Lois Boisson had been serving up baguette-scented magic, dancing her way through higher-ranked opponents and earning crowd chants like a true Parisian princess. But then came Coco. The American starlet, all grown up and laser-focused, had no time for glass slippers or underdog sentiment. She dismantled Boisson’s dream run in straight sets, combining fierce forehands with steely nerves.

The double headline paints a clear picture: the WTA throne is not a single seat—it’s a musical chair game played at breakneck speed. One day you’re the queen of clay, the next you’re a footnote. And as for fairy tales? Coco Gauff just reminded us that even in Paris, midnight comes fast.