Aryna Sabalenka addressed her earlier comments downplaying Coco Gauff’s winning in the final of the 2025 French Open. The championship match at the clay-court Major was the 11th meeting between the two players on the WTA Tour, with Gauff now leading their head-to-head record with six wins.
Aryna Sabalenka Addresses Downplaying Coco Gauff’s Performance at French Open Final
In what was her maiden French Open final, Sabalenka took on second-seed Coco Gauff, eventually losing 7-6(5), 4-6, 2-6 to the American. In the post-match press conference, Sabalenka remarked that Gauff’s victory was not solely due to her “incredible” performance but rather a result of Sabalenka’s unforced errors.
“I was just making unforced errors. I don’t know. I have to check the statistics. I think she won the match not because she played incredible. Just because I made all of those mistakes, if you look from the outside, from kind of easy balls,” Sabalenka said.
These comments sparked criticism from tennis fans, who felt that the World No. 1 undermined Gauff’s achievement.
In response to the backlash, Sabalenka took to social media to clarify her remarks. She acknowledged that Gauff played extremely well and “deserved” the win.
“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,” Aryna Sabalenka wrote.
The World No. 1 also admitted that she did not play at her best, while Gauff demonstrated “poise” and skill to secure the title.
“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. Time to rest, learn, and come back stronger,” she added.
Sabalenka was the top seed at the 2025 French Open and defeated Kamilla Rakhimova, Jil Teichmann, Olga Danilović, Amanda Anisimova, Zheng Qinwen, and Iga Świątek to reach the final.
Sabalenka to Next Compete at 2025 Berlin Tennis Open
Following the conclusion of her campaign at the 2025 French Open, Sabalenka is set to begin her grass-court season at the 2025 Berlin Tennis Open. The WTA 500 tournament is scheduled to take place from June 16 to June 22, 2025, and the matches will be played on the outdoor grass courts of the Rot-Weiss Tennis Club in Berlin, Germany.
In addition to Sabalenka, players like Gauff, Paula Badosa, Mirra Andreeva, Jessica Pegula, Madison Keys, Elena Rybakina, and Zheng Qinwen, among others, will also compete at the Berlin Tennis Open.
World’s number 1 is coming back to Berlin! @SabalenkaA is the first top player to confirm her participation at the Berlin Tennis Open 2025.
Get your tickets now and watch Aryna live in Berlin: https://t.co/TrKJuSdCI5 pic.twitter.com/etY1nsXP8t— Berlin Tennis Open (@berlin_tennis) February 5, 2025
Sabalenka’s best performance in Berlin was in the doubles event in 2021, where she partnered with fellow Belarusian Victoria Azarenka. The duo was seeded fourth in the tournament and began their campaign with a convincing victory over the Czech pair of Karolína Plíšková and Karolína Muchová in the first round, winning 6-1, 6-3.
They overcame Petra Martić and Shelby Rogers 6-3, 6-4 before getting past Giuliana Olmos and Sharon Fichman 7-5, 3-6, [10-6] to secure their place in the final.
In the championship match, Sabalenka and Azarenka faced the top-seeded team of Nicole Melichar and Demi Schuurs and emerged victorious with a score of 4–6, 7–5, [10–4], clinching the doubles title in Berlin. This victory marked Sabalenka’s sixth career WTA Tour doubles title and Azarenka’s ninth.