Coco Gauff recently confirmed that Aryna Sabalenka sent her a written apology following the French Open final, where Sabalenka’s comments sparked backlash. After the intense title match, Sabalenka attributed Gauff’s victory not to exceptional play by the American but to the numerous errors she personally made, citing 70 unforced errors during the contest. This comment set off a wave of criticism towards Sabalenka in the aftermath of the event.
Sabalenka later clarified that she did not intend to diminish Gauff’s achievement and acknowledged that Gauff was the better player in their final. Despite starting strongly, Sabalenka was unable to maintain her lead as Gauff staged a comeback to win 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4, securing her first major title after two hours and 38 minutes of competition.
Gauff Offers Perspective and Embraces Sabalenka’s Apology
In the days following the match, Coco Gauff appeared on Good Morning America and broke her silence on the controversy that followed Sabalenka’s remarks. She sympathized with Sabalenka, recognizing the emotional strain the loss must have caused. Gauff later revealed in an interview with DW that Sabalenka reached out with a written apology, a gesture she greatly appreciated.
“She texted me two or maybe three days ago, she sent a text apologizing. I understand things can get emotional and things can be said. I definitely appreciate the fact that she reached out because I was a little bit surprised by the whole thing. It’s dirt under a rug and we should all move on,” Coco Gauff said.
Gauff urged the public and media to move past the incident and focus on the future, indicating her hope for improved relations and mutual respect between the top players.
Sabalenka Acknowledges Mistake and Regrets Her Comments
Aryna Sabalenka publicly addressed the controversy during a recent interview with TNT, expressing remorse for her remarks. She admitted that allowing her emotions to take over was unprofessional and acknowledged the heightened scrutiny athletes face compared to others.
“That was just completely unprofessional of me. I let my emotions get the better of me. 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. I think we all have those days when we lose control. The difference with me is, the world is watching. I get a lot more hate for what I did than other people,” Sabalenka said.
Her candid admission highlights the pressure elite athletes endure in emotionally charged moments, and the expectations they face to maintain composure in public forums.
Reactions from Peers and the Tennis Community
Among reactions to the situation, Madison Keys, Gauff’s friend and frequent rival, was asked about the controversy and dismissed any concerns over Gauff’s feelings. Keys stated simply that she believed Gauff was unaffected by the remarks, underscoring Gauff’s focus on her victory rather than the backlash.