Coco Gauff secured her first French Open championship with a hard-fought victory over Aryna Sabalenka on Sunday, winning 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 in the Paris final after a dramatic three-set match. The American player’s triumph marks a major milestone, while Sabalenka’s post-match remarks about Iga Swiatek have stirred debate and criticism among fans and the tennis community.
Aryna Sabalenka falls short in second Grand Slam final of 2025
Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka came close to claiming a Grand Slam title but was unable to close the match after strong early momentum. She edged out the first set in a tense tiebreak, 7-6 (7-5), showing resilience against Gauff’s persistent challenge. However, the tide turned in the second and third sets as Gauff dominated play, rallying to 6-2 and 6-4 wins. This outcome adds another loss to Sabalenka’s Grand Slam final record, now 0-2 in 2025.
Sabalenka nodded to her frustration after the loss, describing it as a painful experience despite her solid form throughout the tournament.
Controversial remarks emerge during Sabalenka’s post-match press conference
Following the final, Sabalenka sparked controversy by suggesting that Iga Swiatek, whom she defeated in the semi-finals, would have beaten Gauff if they had met in the final. She said,
“That hurts. Especially when you’ve been playing really good tennis all week,”
—Aryna Sabalenka, tennis player
She further remarked,
“It just hurts. I’ve been playing really well, and then in the last match, going out there and doing what I did, it hurts.”
—Aryna Sabalenka, tennis player
Sabalenka’s comments have been met with backlash from fans who viewed them as disrespectful to Gauff’s achievement and dismissed the American champion’s performance.
One fan voiced their disapproval on social media, writing,
“That’s so disappointing and unnecessary from [Aryna] Sabalenka. I do understand her frustration, but this wasn’t good,”
—Fan on X
Other reactions included,
“Wow… That’s disappointing to hear Saba say this,”
—Fan
“So disrespectful to Gauff… Not a good look,”
—Fan
“Damn, sore loser. It’s good she respects Iga (I also think she would win in these conditions), but not like that, come on,”
—Fan
Some fans compared Sabalenka’s remarks unfavorably to the behavior of leading male players, emphasizing a perceived lack of sportsmanship.
“Can you imagine Carlitos [Carlos Alcaraz] or [Jannik] Sinner saying anything like this (same for Rafa [Nadal] or Roger [Federer])? Jesus! This Sabalenka woman is an insult to tennis,”
—Fan
Sabalenka herself reflected critically on her performance, admitting it was below her expectations.
“I guess you just have to, again, take a step back, learn, and go out there and be better, but right now I don’t know how not to be hard on myself,”
—Aryna Sabalenka, tennis player
“Honestly, it’s the worst match I’ve played in the last two months.”
—Aryna Sabalenka, tennis player
“I wouldn’t mind playing like that in, I don’t know, the fourth round or the quarterfinals, but in a Grand Slam final, it’s a little… not right.”
—Aryna Sabalenka, tennis player
Sabalenka is already preparing to regroup as she looks toward Wimbledon, aiming for her fourth Major title.
Assessing the debate: Would Iga Swiatek have beaten Coco Gauff in the final?
Sabalenka’s assertion that Swiatek would have defeated Gauff in the French Open final has sparked questions about the rivalry between the two leading women’s players. Swiatek holds an impressive 11-4 lead in their overall head-to-head matches, but Gauff has won their last three WTA encounters, signaling a changing dynamic.
In particular, Gauff’s dominant 6-1, 6-1 victory over Swiatek at the Madrid Open in May marked the Polish player’s worst clay-court loss in six years. However, Swiatek has consistently dominated Gauff at the French Open itself, winning in straight sets in 2022, 2023, and 2024, including a comprehensive 6-1, 6-3 victory in the 2021 final.
Sabalenka’s comments may have been influenced by their history at Roland Garros, where Swiatek’s dominance has been clear. Yet the unpredictable nature of tennis means the outcome of a hypothetical Swiatek-Gauff final remains unknowable.
As Gauff celebrates her breakthrough, she now stands as a two-time Grand Slam champion, having firmly established her place atop the tennis world. The focus will likely shift to how she builds on this momentum in future tournaments.