Aryna Sabalenka Faces Backlash for Comments After French Open 2025 Loss to Coco Gauff**
Aryna Sabalenka, the world No. 1, drew widespread criticism for her post-match remarks following her 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4 defeat to Coco Gauff in the French Open 2025 women’s final on June 7, with many labeling her comments “classless” and “disrespectful.” In a press conference, Sabalenka attributed her loss to her own 70 unforced errors and windy conditions, stating, “I think she won the match not because she played incredible; just because I made all of those mistakes,” and suggested Iga Swiatek would have beaten Gauff in a hypothetical final, per Yahoo Sports. She also remarked that Gauff’s shots sometimes landed in “magically” from the frame, calling it “like a joke,” per The Athletic.[](https://au.news.yahoo.com/aryna-sabalenka-under-fire-over-classless-act-after-loss-to-coco-gauff-in-french-open-final-205948571.html)[](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6410581/2025/06/07/tennis-french-open-final-sabalenka-gauff-conditions-reaction/)
Tennis icon Rennae Stubbs called the remarks “rude” on her podcast, while fans on X, like @MaggieandPerl, branded Sabalenka a “sore loser,” and @EvanHandler noted her history of ungracious concessions. Gauff, 21, responded diplomatically in her press conference, saying, “I don’t agree with that. I’m sitting here [with the trophy],” and referenced her straight-sets win over Swiatek in Madrid 2025, per Yahoo Sports. On Good Morning America on June 9, Gauff added, “I know she was probably a bit emotional after that match, and I’m gonna give her the benefit of the doubt,” per ABC News.[](https://sports.yahoo.com/article/coco-gauff-responds-aryna-sabalenka-200934155.html)[](https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/coco-gauff-speaks-after-opponents-criticism-french-open/story?id=122636336)[](https://x.com/EvanHandler/status/1931465362023034944)
Sabalenka later issued an apology on her Instagram Story on June 8, writing, “Coco handled the conditions much better than I did and fully deserved the win. She played with poise and purpose,” acknowledging her 70 errors while maintaining her honesty, per Sports Illustrated. Despite the retraction, some fans, like @MJFINESSELOVER on X, felt it was too late, though @viarifnote praised her for recalibrating.
The controversy overshadowed Gauff’s milestone as the first American woman to win Roland Garros since Serena Williams in 2015, with her resilience and adaptability in windy conditions key to her second Grand Slam title, per The Guardian.[](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/jun/07/french-open-womens-final-report-coco-gauff-aryna-sabalenka)
