The 2025 French Open women’s final delivered a thrilling spectacle as Coco Gauff clinched her second Grand Slam title, outlasting World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in a gripping 7-6(5), 2-6, 4-6 battle on June 7 at Roland Garros. The victory, a crowning moment for the 21-year-old American, was overshadowed by Sabalenka’s post-match comments, which sparked a firestorm in the tennis world. The Belarusian, visibly frustrated, attributed her defeat to her own 70 unforced errors and windy conditions, claiming, “I think she won the match not because she played incredible, just because I made all those mistakes.” She even suggested that Iga Swiatek, whom she defeated in the semifinals, would have beaten Gauff in the final. Madison Keys, a fellow American and the 2025 Australian Open champion, has since weighed in, defending Gauff’s resilience and asserting that the young star likely brushed off the remarks. “To be honest, I don’t think I would really care, especially if I had won, no matter what they say or think,” Keys declared, highlighting Gauff’s ability to rise above the drama.
The controversy erupted in Sabalenka’s post-match press conference, where her raw emotions led to what she later called “completely unprofessional” comments. “It was really, honestly, the worst tennis I’ve played in the last, I don’t know, in the last I don’t know how many months,” she said, downplaying Gauff’s performance. The remarks drew sharp criticism from fans and tennis legends, with some accusing Sabalenka of diminishing Gauff’s hard-fought victory. Gauff, ever composed, responded with characteristic grace, suggesting the comments were likely a heat-of-the-moment outburst. “I don’t agree with that,” she said when asked about Sabalenka’s claim that Swiatek would have won, showcasing her maturity. Sabalenka, reflecting on the backlash, later apologized via a written message to Gauff, admitting, “I let my emotions get the better of me. I’m just a human being who’s still learning in life.” She also took to Instagram, stating, “Coco handled the conditions much better than I did and fully deserved the win.”
Keys, who faced Gauff in the Roland Garros quarterfinals, offered a seasoned perspective on the emotional toll of high-stakes matches. “It’s a complicated emotional moment, and I think sometimes emotions bring everything out of people,” she said. “Sometimes we say things we later regret. Again, I don’t think Coco would care.” Her comments, made during a press conference at the Queen’s Club Championships on June 14, where she reached the semifinals, underscored the intense pressure players face in post-match interviews. Keys, who defeated Sabalenka in the Australian Open final earlier this year, emphasized the human side of such moments. “Things just kind of come out, and you don’t necessarily mean them fully,” she added, suggesting that Sabalenka’s remarks were more about personal disappointment than malice.
The tennis community has rallied around Gauff, with figures like Tim Henman praising her adaptability. “Coco was more accepting of the conditions and therefore wasn’t trying to play perfect tennis, whereas Sabalenka was playing so aggressively all the time and needed to vary it a bit,” he noted. Gauff’s triumph, which saw her overcome a set deficit and navigate Sabalenka’s 37 winners, highlighted her mental fortitude. Her path to the title included victories over Keys and Ons Jabeur, making her the first player since 2017 to defeat the winners of the previous two majors—Keys (Australian Open) and Sabalenka (US Open)—en route to the Roland Garros crown.
As the grass-court season unfolds, all eyes are on the Berlin Ladies Open, where Gauff and Sabalenka, the top two seeds, are in opposite halves of the draw, potentially setting up a final rematch. Gauff faces either Daria Kasatkina or a qualifier, while Sabalenka takes on World No. 112 Rebeka Masarova. The controversy has added intrigue to their budding rivalry, which includes Gauff’s 2023 US Open final win over Sabalenka. Despite the tension, Sabalenka’s apology and Gauff’s magnanimity have shifted focus back to their on-court battles. “Coco handled the conditions much better and fully deserved the win,” Sabalenka reiterated on social media, aiming to mend ties.
Keys’ defense of Gauff reflects the camaraderie among American players, with the 30-year-old acting as a mentor figure. Her own 2025 season, highlighted by a Grand Slam title and a strong Queen’s Club showing, positions her as a voice of authority. As Gauff prepares for Wimbledon, where she’s yet to advance past the fourth round, her ability to shrug off Sabalenka’s shade, as Keys predicted, could fuel her confidence. The saga, blending raw emotion, sportsmanship, and redemption, underscores the passion that defines women’s tennis, with Gauff emerging as a beacon of poise in the face of adversity.
Leave a Reply