Aryna Sabalenka took to social media to clarify her remarks regarding Coco Gauff’s recent triumph at the French Open, following a wave of criticism stemming from her post-match comments.
“Yesterday was a tough one,” Sabalenka stated in an Instagram Story on June 8. “Coco handled the conditions much better than I did and fully deserved the win. She was the better player yesterday, and I want to give her the credit she earned.”
In her candid reflection, she added, “You all know me… I’m always going to be honest and human in how I process these moments. I made over 70 unforced errors, so I can’t pretend it was a great day for me. Both things can be true… I didn’t play my best, and Coco stepped up and played with poise and purpose. She earned that title. Respect.”
Sabalenka emphasized the need for recovery and growth, stating it’s now “time to rest, learn and come back stronger.”
She further remarked on Gauff’s performance, saying, “[Coco] was hitting the ball from the frame. Somehow magically the ball lands in the court. It felt like a joke, honestly, like somebody from above was there laughing, like, ‘Let’s see if you can handle this… I think she won the match not because she played incredible, just because I made all of those mistakes.”
In response, Gauff, who held the No. 2 world ranking before the final, countered Sabalenka’s assessment during her own press conference. “I mean, I don’t agree with that,” she said while holding her French Open trophy. “I’m here sitting here [as the champion]. No shade to Iga or anything, but last time I played her I won in straight sets. I don’t think that’s a fair thing to say, because anything can really happen.”
Gauff secured her victory over Sabalenka with a score of 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 in a match that marked the first French Open final between the world’s top two players since 2013. This win not only awarded Gauff her first French Open singles title but also her second major singles title overall. Additionally, she became the first American woman to claim this title since Serena Williams in 2015. The two players previously met in the 2023 US Open final, where Gauff also emerged victorious.
