The 2025 French Open women’s final delivered a gripping showdown between World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and rising American star Coco Gauff, culminating in a dramatic victory for Gauff and a storm of controversy sparked by Sabalenka’s post-match remarks. Tennis legend Chris Evert, a commentator during the match, expressed shock at Sabalenka’s comments, which included a provocative claim about what might have happened had Iga Swiatek faced Gauff in the final. Evert’s reaction, captured in her candid remark, “I was like wow,” underscored the intensity of the moment, as Sabalenka’s words drew sharp criticism from fans and analysts alike.
The match itself was a rollercoaster of emotions. Sabalenka, known for her relentless power, surged ahead in the first set, clinching it 7-6(5) after a tense tiebreaker. However, Gauff, showcasing the resilience that has defined her young career, battled back with a commanding 6-2 second set and sealed the victory with a 6-4 third set, claiming her second Grand Slam title. Sabalenka’s 70 unforced errors, exacerbated by swirling winds on Court Philippe-Chatrier, proved costly, allowing Gauff to capitalize and secure her maiden Roland Garros crown. Evert, speaking on TNT Sports, praised Gauff’s composure: “She really kept her calm after losing the first set. She’s a fighter, she came back and figured out she needed to match Aryna’s power.”
In the post-match press conference, Sabalenka’s frustration was palpable. Struggling to process her second consecutive Grand Slam final loss of 2025, she suggested that her performance was “the worst tennis I’ve played in months” and attributed her defeat to the windy conditions and her own errors. But it was her speculative comment about Swiatek that ignited a firestorm: “If Iga had beaten me the other day, I think she would have gone out today and gotten the win.” This remark, implying Swiatek would have defeated Gauff, was seen as dismissive of Gauff’s hard-fought victory and drew immediate backlash. Fans on social media platforms called it “disrespectful” and “unnecessary,” with one stating, “Can you imagine Carlos Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner saying anything like this? This Sabalenka woman is an insult to tennis.”
Evert, a seasoned observer of the sport, was quick to defend Gauff, emphasizing the American’s adaptability. “When you heard Aryna say it was the worst [final], I was like wow! You have to adjust,” Evert said. “If you are number one in the world, you should know how to play on windy days by now. It was the same for both of them, and I think Coco really adapted to it much better.” Evert’s critique highlighted Sabalenka’s failure to adjust her aggressive style to the conditions, noting that Gauff’s ability to “get ready and prepared for the shot quicker” and avoid going for risky lines was key to her triumph.
The controversy surrounding Sabalenka’s comments overshadowed what should have been a moment of celebration for Gauff, who became the first American woman in a decade to win the French Open. Evert expressed personal pride in Gauff’s achievement, noting, “I’m so happy for her, first of all, being American, and somebody asked me what impressed you the most with her, and I’m saying, ‘Well, aside from her game, she’s the greatest young woman ever.’” Gauff’s victory, worth £2,166,912, positions her as a leading contender for the upcoming grass-court season, with eyes now turning to Wimbledon.
Sabalenka, despite her disappointment, acknowledged the need to learn from the loss. “I guess you just have to take a step back, learn, and go out there and be better,” she reflected. However, her comments about Swiatek have left a lingering tension, with fans and pundits questioning her sportsmanship. Evert’s reaction, rooted in decades of experience, serves as a reminder of the fine line between competitive frustration and professional grace. As the tennis world moves forward, Gauff’s triumph and Sabalenka’s controversy will remain defining moments of the 2025 French Open, sparking debates about resilience, adaptation, and the pressures of elite competition.
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