Aryna Sabalenka has publicly praised Coco Gauff for her impressive performance during the French Open final held on Saturday. Despite suffering a tough defeat with a score of 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4, Sabalenka acknowledged Gauff's ability to play “with poise and purpose,” highlighting her opponent’s composure under challenging conditions.
In the immediate aftermath of the match, the Belarusian star described her own performance as “terrible,” labeling it as “the worst final I have ever played.” Sabalenka also pointed out the difficult weather conditions that affected both players during the match. She initially seemed to critique Gauff's level of play, mentioning that Gauff had been hitting her shots “off the frame” and was fortunate that the wind helped keep her balls in play.
Following the match, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka sought to clarify her earlier remarks and ensure that Coco Gauff received “the credit she earned” for clinching her first French Open title. In a heartfelt message on Instagram, Sabalenka reflected on the match, saying, “Yesterday was a tough one. Coco handled the conditions much better than I did and fully deserved the win. She was the better player yesterday, and I want to give her the credit she earned.”
Sabalenka continued, “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 my best, and Coco stepped up and played with poise and purpose. She earned that title. Respect.”
As she reflects on the match, Sabalenka emphasized the importance of taking time to rest and learn from this experience. “Time to rest, learn, and come back stronger,” she concluded, indicating her determination to improve in future tournaments.
Aryna Sabalenka has reached six Grand Slam finals since the beginning of 2023, securing victories in three of them. The recent match at Roland Garros marked her first final appearance at this prestigious tournament, setting the stage for her future endeavors in the world of tennis.
With this experience, both Sabalenka and Gauff are poised to continue their journeys in the sport, leaving fans eager for what lies ahead in their careers.
