On June 18, 2025, Coco Gauff addressed Aryna Sabalenka’s apology for her “unprofessional” remarks following their French Open final on June 7, where Gauff won 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4 to claim her second Grand Slam title. Speaking on Good Morning America after the match, Gauff expressed her “true feelings,” giving Sabalenka the benefit of the doubt: “I was a little bit surprised about the comments… but I’m gonna give her the benefit of the doubt. I’m sure it was an emotional day, emotional match,” per People. Gauff acknowledged Sabalenka’s competitiveness, noting, “Every time I play Aryna, she’s a fighter. She’s a tough opponent,” and highlighted their close 6-5 head-to-head record, per Express.
Context of Sabalenka’s Comments and Apology
After the final, Sabalenka, the world No. 1, sparked controversy by saying Gauff won “not because she played incredible” but due to Sabalenka’s 70 unforced errors, also claiming Iga Swiatek would have beaten Gauff, per The Guardian. Facing backlash, Sabalenka posted on Instagram Stories on June 8, crediting Gauff’s poise: “Coco handled the conditions much better… She earned that title. Respect,” per Sports Illustrated. On June 17, she revealed to Eurosport Germany that she wrote Gauff a private apology, admitting, “That was just completely unprofessional of me. I let my emotions get the better of me,” and emphasizing respect for Gauff’s victory, per BBC Sport.
Gauff’s Perspective and Others’ Reactions
Gauff, speaking post-match, rejected Sabalenka’s Swiatek claim, citing her 6-1, 6-1 win over Swiatek in Madrid 2025 and asserting, “I think [Sabalenka] was the best person that I could have played in the final,” per Yahoo Sports. On June 13, Gauff defended Sabalenka against online criticism, saying on FirstTake, “I didn’t love what she said… but Aryna is not a racist. She might’ve been rude in the moment, but she’s no racist,” per @TennisCentel. Madison Keys, the 2025 Australian Open champion, downplayed the drama, stating, “I don’t think Coco cares… It’s emotional, and sometimes things come out,” per Express.
Current Sentiment and Future Outlook
Gauff’s gracious response, per @LeDerius on X, reflects her focus on sportsmanship, per. Both players are now at the Berlin Open, with Sabalenka facing Rebeka Masarova and Gauff in the opposite draw half, per Tennis365. As they prepare for Wimbledon 2025 (June 30–July 13), their rivalry, intensified by Gauff’s 2023 US Open win over Sabalenka, remains a key storyline, per Yardbarker. Public sentiment, per @SABCNews, supports Sabalenka’s apology, but some fans, like @randall_wins, see Gauff’s victory as a rebuttal to the initial slight, per.
