ARYNA Sabalenka has apologized to Coco Gauff for “unprofessional” comments she made after losing to Gauff in the French Open final.
Sabalenka told Eurosport Germany that her remarks, suggesting that her own errors rather than Gauff’s performance were to blame for the 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4 loss at Roland-Garros, were a mistake.
“That was just completely unprofessional of me,” Sabalenka stated, admitting her emotions got the better of her. “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.”
Sabalenka, who hit 37 winners but made 70 unforced errors compared to Gauff’s 30, confirmed she wrote to Gauff to apologize and assure her that she “absolutely deserved to win the tournament.”
“I never intended to attack her,” Sabalenka explained. “I was super emotional and not very smart at that press conference.”
She reflected on the incident, seeing it as a valuable lesson, particularly given her history of losing finals, including to Gauff at the 2023 U.S. Open after winning the first set.
The three-time major champion emphasized the importance of respect for opponents.
“I’m the one who always treats my opponents with great respect, whether I win or lose. Without that respect, I wouldn’t be where I am today. So it was a tough but very valuable lesson for me,” Sabalenka said. / FROM THE WIRES