Coco Gauff, the World No. 2 and 2025 French Open champion, made a powerful statement at Wimbledon 2025, emphasizing resilience and unity, as the controversy surrounding Aryna Sabalenka’s French Open final comments fades. In a June 27 Tennis Channel interview, Gauff declared, “I’m here to compete, but also to show we can lift each other up,” referencing her viral Centre Court dance with Sabalenka, per *EssentiallySports*. The lighthearted moment, set to C+C Music Factory’s “Gonna Make You Sweat,” posted on TikTok and Instagram, saw Gauff caption, “The olive branch was extended and accepted,” signaling their reconciliation, per *ProFootballNetwork.com*.[](https://www.essentiallysports.com/wta-tennis-news-coco-gauff-makes-powerful-wimbledon-statement-as-aryna-sabalenka-firestorm-fades/)[](https://www.profootballnetwork.com/tennis/aryna-sabalenka-coco-gauff-put-controversy-rest-dance-wimbledon/)
The firestorm began after Gauff’s 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4 French Open win over Sabalenka on June 7, when the World No. 1 attributed her loss to 70 unforced errors, saying, “She won not because she played incredible, but because I made all those mistakes,” per *The Athletic*. Sabalenka’s claim that Iga Swiatek would have beaten Gauff drew backlash, prompting her apology on Instagram: “Coco handled the conditions better and deserved the win,” per *The Guardian*. Gauff, gracious on *Good Morning America*, said, “I was surprised, but I’m giving her the benefit of the doubt,” noting the emotional toll of the loss, per *ABC News*.[](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6431752/2025/06/17/tennis-sabalenka-gauff-french-open-final/)[](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/jun/17/aryna-sabalenka-coco-gauff-french-open)[](https://people.com/coco-gauff-surprised-by-aryna-sabalenka-french-open-comments-11751276)
Their June 27 dance and Gauff’s four-word quip, “We’re good, so chill,” during a Tennis Channel chat with Sabalenka, dispelled lingering tension, per *EssentiallySports*. Gauff’s statement underscores her focus on Wimbledon, where she faces Dayana Yastremska in the first round, with a potential Swiatek quarterfinal, per *WTA*. Sabalenka, starting against Carson Branstine, could only meet Gauff in the July 12 final, per *Tennis.com*. Fans on X, like @ClaroSports, praised their “classy resolution,” while @TennisFanUK called Gauff’s words a “power move,” per @TheTennisLetter. Gauff’s poise, on and off the court, positions her as a Wimbledon favorite, with the Sabalenka saga now a footnote.
