World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka gives credit to Coco Gauff after brutal post-match claims were blasted
Updated . First published
Aryna Sabalenka has admitted Coco Gauff "fully deserved" to win at the Roland-Garros, despite suggesting the American wouldn't have won if Sabalenka didn't deliver a poor showing.
The world No.1 came under fire on Sunday after her post-match comments appeared to suggest Gauff's win was not due to skill but due to Sabalenka's own errors.
Sabalenka suggested that her rival was lucky to get shots back into the court and would not be holding the trophy if Iga Swiatek was the player on the other side of the net.
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“I didn’t really handle myself quite well mentally, I would say. So basically that’s it," Sabalenka said.
"I was just making unforced errors. I think she won the match not because she played incredible; just because I made all of those mistakes."
Aryna Sabalenka looks on against Coco Gauff. DeFodi Images via Getty Images
The comments were blasted by fans on social media, as Gauff reiterated that she did not agree with the claims made by her opponent.
"Last time I played, no shade to Iga or anything, but I played her and I won in straight sets," Gauff said.
"Honestly, the way Aryna was playing the last few weeks, she was the favourite to win, so I think she was the best person that I could have played in the final.
"Her being No.1 in the world, she was the best person to play so I think I got the hardest matchup, just if you go off stats alone."
Sabalenka has since taken to Instagram to give credit to Gauff's performance in the final.
"Yesterday was a tough one," Sabalenka wrote on an Instagram story on Sunday evening (AEST).
"Coco handled the conditions much better than I did and fully deserved the win.
"She was the better player, 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.
"But both things can be true. I didn't play me best, and Coco stepped up and played with poise and purpose. She earned that title. Respect.
"Time to rest, learn and come back stronger."
As Gauff celebrated her triumph on the Parisian clay, Sabalenka sat with her gaze lost in the distance before she took a towel and covered her face.
When it finally came time to speak during the trophy presentation, Sabalenka was silent for a long moment, as if on the verge of tears.
The assessment of her own performance, when she finally took the microphone to address the Roland-Garros crowd, was ruthless.
“Honestly guys, this one hurts so much," she said.
“To show such terrible tennis in the final does really hurt.”
Coco Gauff holds the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen trophy alongside runner-up Aryna Sabalenka. Getty
Sabalenka won the first set as her high-risk approach brought dividends initially. But once Gauff found her stride, the Belarusian's errors became more and more frequent and she lost the match between the world's two highest-ranked players 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4.
Sabalenka hit 37 winners but finished the match with a staggering 70 unforced errors — compared to Gauff's 30. Sabalenka also dropped her serve nine times.
Errors were not the only concern in Sabalenka's brutal assessment as she went on to complain about the weather conditions.
The retractable roof over the center court remained open during the final, and Sabalenka was visibly annoyed by bursts of wind sweeping across the court.
“Conditions were terrible," the three-time major champion said.
“When she would hit the ball, at some point the wind would just let the ball fly like crazy, and you know, I was late every time.
It was the second major final Sabalenka lost to Gauff, after the 2023 US Open, where she also won the first set.
Sabalenka had won their most recent meeting on clay this year in Madrid and thought she had the weapons to beat the American on the biggest stage.
“It’s another tough grand slam final against Coco,” Sabalenka said.
“Another terrible performance from me against Coco in the final. I have to step back, look at this from a perspective, and try to finally learn the lesson, because I cannot go out there every time against her in Grand Slam finals and play such terrible tennis and give those wins, not easily, but emotionally.”
