American tennis star Coco Gauff, 21, is fresh off her first French Open win, defeating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the finals on Saturday, June 7. Gauff’s victory marked the first time in a decade that an American had won the French Open. However, Gauff’s moment of celebration was short-lived after Sabalenka made some shocking comments to the media following her loss.
‘I think she won the match not because she played incredible,’ said Sabalenka. ‘Just because I made all of those mistakes, if you look from the outside, from kind of easy balls.’
Although Sabalenka later retracted some of her comments, praising Gauff for how she ‘played with poise and purpose.’
The original comments had already been aired out, and Gauff was certainly taken aback by her statements.
Coco Gauff ‘surprised’ by Sabalenka comments
In response to Sabalenka’s comments, Gauff told ‘Good Morning America’ on Monday, ‘I was a little bit surprised about the comments and everything but I’m gonna give her the benefit of the doubt. I’m sure it was an emotional day, emotional match.’ Gauff continued, ‘I know she was probably a bit emotional after that match and it was a tough loss.’
Gauff went on to call Sabalenka a ‘fighter’ and ‘a tough opponent,’ noting that the windy conditions during the finals were very tough on both of them. That is something that Sabalenka noted as well, citing that Gauff ‘handled the conditions much better.’
Have Gauff and Sabalenka played before?
Heading into the French Open finals, Gauff and Sabalenka had a career match record of 5-5 against one another. Gauff has now pulled ahead at 6-5. Gauff is 2-1 against Sabalenka at Grand Slam finals.
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