On June 17, 2025, Aryna Sabalenka admitted she “absolutely regrets” her “completely unprofessional” remarks about Coco Gauff following her 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4 loss in the 2025 French Open final on June 7. In an interview with Eurosport Germany ahead of the Berlin Open, Sabalenka confessed that her post-match press conference comments, where she attributed Gauff’s win to her own 70 unforced errors rather than Gauff’s performance, were a mistake driven by emotion. She said, “I let my emotions get the better of me. I was super emotional and not very smart at that press conference,” per The Guardian. Sabalenka’s initial claim that Gauff “won the match not because she played incredible, just because I made all of those mistakes” sparked backlash, with fans on X, like @BenLewisMPC, calling it “distasteful” and “classless,” per.
Apology and Reflection
Sabalenka revealed she recently wrote to Gauff to apologize, stating, “I wanted to make sure she knew she absolutely deserved to win the tournament and that I respect her. I never intended to attack her,” per Tennis365. She acknowledged the public scrutiny, noting, “The difference with me is: the world is watching. I get a lot more hate for what I did afterwards than other people,” per The Athletic. Sabalenka treated the controversy as a learning experience, saying, “It took me a while to revisit it, to approach it with open eyes, and to understand. I realized a lot about myself. Why did I lose so many finals?” per Sportskeeda. She emphasized her commitment to respecting opponents, adding, “Without that respect, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” per Irish Independent.
Gauff’s Response and Context
Gauff, who claimed her second Grand Slam title, responded on Good Morning America on June 9, saying, “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,” per USA Today. She refuted Sabalenka’s claim that Iga Swiatek would have beaten her, citing her 6-1, 6-1 win over Swiatek in Madrid 2024, per Yahoo Sports. The two share a 6-5 head-to-head, with Gauff winning both the 2023 US Open and 2025 French Open finals against Sabalenka, per Newsweek. Sabalenka’s apology, praised by X users like @jmgmoron, signals her intent to grow as she prepares for Wimbledon 2025, starting June 30, per Motorcycle Sports.
