In the high-stakes world of professional tennis, emotions often run as high as the intensity of the matches themselves. Following her defeat to Coco Gauff in the French Open final, Aryna Sabalenka found herself at the center of a media firestorm after making some controversial comments in her post-match press conference. Now, reflecting on the incident, the world number one has offered her perspective on what transpired, highlighting a key aspect of the athlete’s experience that the public often overlooks.
The comments in question came after Sabalenka lost a hard-fought final to Gauff, a match in which the American battled back from a set down to claim her second Grand Slam title. At her press conference, a visibly frustrated Sabalenka stated that Gauff won “not because she played incredible, [but] because I made all of those mistakes.” The remark, which many perceived as unsportsmanlike and disrespectful to Gauff’s achievement, quickly went viral, drawing widespread criticism and backlash. Sabalenka, who committed 70 unforced errors in the final, also went on to suggest that Iga Swiatek would have beaten Gauff had she advanced to the final.
In the aftermath, Sabalenka issued a public apology to Gauff through social media and in a press conference in Berlin. “That was just completely unprofessional of me,” she admitted. “I let my emotions get the better of me. I absolutely regret what I said back then. You know, we all make mistakes. I’m just a human being who’s still learning in life. I think we all have those days when we los1e control.”
She also revealed that she wrote to Gauff privately 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,” Sabalenka added. “I was super emotional and not very smart at that press confer2ence. It took me a while to go back and think about it, to approach it with open eyes, and to understand. I realized a lot about myself. Why did I lose so many finals?”
The incident has become a valuable lesson for the top-ranked player, who has reflected on the mental and emotional toll of competing at the highest level. Speaking in Cincinnati, Sabalenka shed light on the intense pressure and tight turnaround players face after a major loss. “People don’t understand the intensity of everything,” she said. “You lose the final of the biggest tournament and you go to media straight away and you are so pissed off with yourself. You don’t think clearly & then you make the comment.”
Gauff, for her part, has shown remarkable grace and understanding throughout the ordeal. She accepted Sabalenka’s apology, confirming that the two had spoken privately. At a Wimbledon press conference, Gauff explained, “I understood what she was trying to say. It was a terrible conditioned day. I don’t think I was playing well either, so I understood where she was coming from. Some of the stuff she said in the presser I was a bit more surprised about. I’m not someone to hold a grudge, and when I was talking to my circle about it, I was like, ‘If she apologizes, I will be fine and we’ll move on3.'”
The controversy, and the subsequent reconciliation, underscore the raw emotional nature of professional sports. It serves as a reminder of the human element behind the athletes, who are expected to perform at an elite level and maintain composure even in their moments of deepest disappointment. For Sabalenka, the experience was a tough but valuable lesson, one that she hopes will help her manage her emotions and respect for opponents in the future.
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