World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has officially apologised to American tennis star Coco Gauff for remarks made after her loss in the French Open final, describing her comments as “unprofessional” and emotionally driven.
In an interview with Eurosport Germany, Sabalenka revealed she recently reached out to Gauff in writing to express her regret over comments suggesting Gauff’s victory was largely due to Sabalenka’s unforced errors rather than Gauff’s performance. The Belarusian had stated in her post-match press conference that, “she won the match not because she played incredible, just because I made all of those mistakes.”
Reflecting on the moment, Sabalenka said, “That was just completely unprofessional of me. I let my emotions get the better of me. I absolutely regret what I said back then.”
The 2025 French Open final saw Sabalenka produce 70 unforced errors despite hitting 37 winners, compared to Gauff’s balanced tally of 30 winners and 30 unforced errors. Gauff ultimately triumphed, further establishing herself as a dominant force on the global tennis stage.
Sabalenka clarified that she never intended her words as a personal attack. “I wrote to Coco afterward – not immediately, but recently – to make sure she knew she absolutely deserved to win the tournament and that I respect her,” she said.
The apology follows a pattern of emotionally charged moments in Sabalenka’s Grand Slam finals. She also lost to Gauff in the 2023 US Open final after taking the first set. “I kept getting so emotional,” Sabalenka admitted. “But I’ve learned a lot. One key lesson is to always treat my opponents with great respect – win or lose. Without that respect, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
The three-time Grand Slam winner described the incident as a turning point in her personal and professional growth. “It took me a while to reflect with open eyes,” she said. “It was a tough but valuable lesson.”
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