Aryna Sabalenka Addresses Her Controversial Comments About Coco Gauff After French Open Loss

Aryna Sabalenka is walking back her comments after losing to Coco Gauff in the French Open.

The world No. 1, who battled windy conditions and a light mist in the final against the 21-year-old American, initially told reporters that Gauff “won the match not because she played incredible” but because “I made all of those mistakes.”

After a day of reflection and amid backlash from her statement, the Belarusian player offered a different stance following her 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 loss.

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“Yesterday was a tough one. Coco handled the conditions much better than I did and fully deserved the win," Sabalenka, 27, wrote on Instagram on Sunday, June 8. "She was the better player yesterday, and I want to give her the credit she earned. 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."

Sabalenka continued, "But 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. Time to rest, learn, and come back stronger.” 

In the three-set loss to Gauff, Sabalenka’s serve frequently went astray, as if the wind carried it. At times, she showed her exasperation — throwing the ball angrily in the direction of a ball girl and then spiking it on the ground in another instance — when the match took a turn after she won the first-set tiebreaker 

“I think it was more windy. Also I think I was over emotional," Sabalenka said, following the match. "Today I didn’t handle myself quite well mentally. Basically that’s it. I was just making unforced errors. I don’t know. I have to check the statistics. I think she won the match not because she played incredible. Just because I made all of those mistakes."

Sabalenka went on to say had she not beaten Iga Swiatek in the semifinal, Swiatek would have gone on to beat Gauff.

“I mean, I don't agree with that,” Gauff later said at her own presser. “I'm here sitting here [as the champion].”

She added, “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.”

On Saturday, Gauff proved that, winning her second Grand Slam title nearly two years after her historic US Open win against Sabalenka, where she also dropped the opening set.