PARIS, FRANCE – JUNE 07: Coco Gauff of United States holds the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen trophy … More
Aryna Sabalenka has been under fire ever since her controversial comments about Coco Gauff following the French Open final.
But the world No. 1 attempted to clear the air with an apology to Gauff.
“It was just completely unprofessional of me. I let my emotions get the better of me. I absolutely regret what I said back then,” she told EuroSport Germany. “I wanted to apologize and make sure she knew she absolutely deserved to win the tournament and that I respect her. I never intended to attack her. I was super emotional and not very smart at that press conference.”
Sabalenka’s comments reached the mainstream sports world and even ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith asked Gauff about it during a recent interview.
“I’m asking, ‘what is her problem?’” Smith asked Gauff. “She came across as a very sore loser after she lost to you.”
Sabalenka, who also lost the 2023 U.S. Open final to Gauff, blamed the “terrible conditions” in Paris for the loss and said of Gauff: “She was hitting the ball from the frame. Somehow, magically, the ball lands in the court. It felt like a joke.”
“She won the match not because she played incredible, just because I made all those mistakes,” Sabalenka said.
“That hurts,” Sabalenka added. “Especially when you’ve been playing really great tennis during the whole week, when you’ve been playing against a lot of tough opponents, Olympic champion [Qinwen Zheng], Iga and then you go out, and you play really bad.
“Like I think Iga… I think she would go out today and she would get the win. It just hurts. Honestly hurts. I’ve been playing really well, and then in the last match, go out there and perform like I did, that’s hurt.”
Responded Gauff: “I mean, I don’t agree with that. 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.
“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 was the best person to play, so I think I got the hardest matchup just if you go off stats alone.”
Wimbledon begins June 30 and both players will be among the favorites.
