Aryna Sabalenka writes apology to Gauff for ‘unprofessional’ comments after French Open final loss
Aryna Sabalenka Apologizes to Coco Gauff for ‘Unprofessional’ French Open Final Comments
On June 17, 2025, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka revealed she personally apologized to Coco Gauff for her “completely unprofessional” remarks following her 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4 loss in the 2025 French Open final on June 7, per www.theguardian.com. Sabalenka’s initial post-match press conference comments, where she attributed Gauff’s victory to her own 70 unforced errors rather than Gauff’s performance, sparked widespread backlash. She stated, “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, per www.bbc.com. Fans and analysts, including @BenLewisMPC on X, called the remarks “distasteful” and “classless,” per.[](https://x.com/BenLewisMPC/status/1931674978543358266)
**Sabalenka’s Regret and Apology**
Speaking to Eurosport Germany ahead of the Berlin Open, Sabalenka expressed deep regret, saying, “I let my emotions get the better of me. I absolutely regret what I said back then,” per www.espn.com. She confirmed reaching out to Gauff recently, writing, “I wanted to apologize and make sure she knew she absolutely deserved to win the tournament and that I respect her. I never intended to attack her,” per www.straitstimes.com. Sabalenka admitted the press conference was “super emotional and not very smart,” reflecting on her 70 unforced errors (39 backhand) and windy conditions that disrupted her game, per www.tennis.com.
Gauff’s Response and Context
Gauff, who secured her second Grand Slam title, responded graciously on June 9 during a *Good Morning America* appearance, 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 abcnews.go.com. She dismissed Sabalenka’s Swiatek claim, noting her 6-1, 6-1 win over Swiatek in Madrid 2024, and emphasized, “I’m here sitting here [as the champion],” per sports.yahoo.com. The two have a competitive history, with Gauff leading 6-5, including wins in the 2023 US Open and 2025 French Open finals, per www.newsweek.com.
**Broader Impact and Sabalenka’s Reflection**
Sabalenka’s apology, praised by X users like @jmgmoron, who noted, “Muy bien por Sabalenka,” per, highlighted her growth. She acknowledged the public scrutiny, saying, “The difference with me is: the world is watching. I get a lot more hate,” per www.si.com. As she prepares for Wimbledon 2025, starting June 30, Sabalenka called the incident a “tough but very instructive lesson,” vowing to handle future losses with more grace, per www.the-independent.com.[](https://x.com/jmgmoron/status/1934911514768548269)
