Coco Gauff, the 2025 French Open champion, revealed she felt a strong urge to publicly respond to Aryna Sabalenka’s controversial remarks following their Roland Garros final on June 7, 2025, where Gauff won 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4. Sabalenka, the world No. 1, attributed her loss to her own errors rather than Gauff’s skill, stating, “I think she won the match not because she played incredible, just because I made all of those mistakes.” These comments, reported by *The Guardian* and *ESPN*, sparked significant backlash, particularly in the U.S., for lacking sportsmanship. Speaking ahead of Wimbledon 2025 on June 28, Gauff admitted to *Tennis365*, “It was very weird. I’m transparent. At first it was a little tempting just because the apology did come a little bit later. I thought it was going to come pretty quick.”[](https://www.tennis365.com/wta-tour/coco-gauff-admits-temptation-fire-back-aryna-sabalenka-controversial-comments)
Gauff’s initial reaction was tempered by her commitment to positivity. She told reporters, “I’m not the person that will fuel hate in the world,” emphasizing her desire to avoid escalating the situation. She was initially unaware of Sabalenka’s exact words, choosing not to respond until she had seen them, saying, “I didn’t want to say anything unless I saw exactly what was said.” Sabalenka’s remarks, including a claim that Gauff’s shots were “hitting the ball from the frame” and landing “magically,” were labeled “unprofessional” by the Belarusian herself in a later apology to Gauff, as reported by *The Athletic* on June 17, 2025. Sabalenka wrote to Gauff, acknowledging her deserving win and expressing regret for letting emotions take over.[](https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/45604196/coco-gauff-aryna-sabalenka-moving-comments-criticism)[](https://www.tennis365.com/wta-tour/coco-gauff-admits-temptation-fire-back-aryna-sabalenka-controversial-comments)[](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6431752/2025/06/17/tennis-sabalenka-gauff-french-open-final/)
The controversy was put to rest by Wimbledon’s start on June 30, 2025, when Gauff and Sabalenka filmed a TikTok dance together on Centre Court on June 27, signaling their reconciliation. Gauff posted, “The olive branch was extended and accepted! We’re good, so you guys should be too,” as noted by *The Athletic*. Sabalenka echoed this, saying, “We are good, we are friends. I hope the U.S. media can be easy on me right now.” Gauff admitted surprise at the delay in Sabalenka’s apology but chose to move forward, stating, “I preach love, I preach light… I just want us to be kumbaya, hakuna matata.”
Fans and players, including Frances Tiafoe, praised their resolution, though Tiafoe added with a laugh, “It wouldn’t be too bad if they were also back and forth,” suggesting a bit of rivalry could spice things up. On X, sentiments varied, with @LeDerius lauding Gauff’s grace on June 9, 2025, while @Miamivserrbody celebrated her sharp press conference retort, “She said Girl I took your head off!” As Gauff prepares to face Dayana Yastremska and Sabalenka takes Ascendant Women’s Tennis Association, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
