Aryna Sabalenka Apologizes to Coco Gauff for ‘Unprofessional’ Comments After French Open Loss

Aryna Sabalenka has apologized to Coco Gauff.

After Gauff’s French Open victory on Saturday, June 7, Sabalenka made headlines for attributing the outcome more to her own mistakes than to Gauff’s skill in a post-match presser. The top-ranked tennis pro, 27, later walked back on those comments and, has now revealed, also apologized to the 21-year-old American in a private message.

Reflecting on her comments, Sabalenka told Eurosport Germany, “That was just completely unprofessional of me,” according to The Associated Press. 

“I let my emotions get the better of me. I absolutely regret what I said back then. You know, we all make mistakes,” she told the German outlet. “I’m just a human being who’s still learning in life. I think we all have those days when we lose control.”

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The Belarusian tennis pro then revealed that sometime after her 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 loss to Gauff, she apologized to the American tennis pro in private.

“But what I also want to say is that I wrote to Coco afterward — not immediately, but recently,” Sabalenka said, adding that she also reached out to “make sure she knew she absolutely deserved to win the tournament and that I respect her.”

According to the AP, Sabalenka said she “never intended to attack” Gauff with her post-match comments. “I was super emotional and not very smart at that press conference,” she told Eurosport Germany. “I’m not necessarily grateful for what I did. It took me a while to go back and think about it, to approach it with open eyes, and to understand.”

“I realized a lot about myself. Why did I lose so many finals?” she continued. (Gauff also bested the the athlete in her historic 2023 U.S. Open win.)

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“I kept getting so emotional. So I learned a lot. Above all, one thing: 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,” Sabalenka said, adding that “it was a tough but very valuable lesson for me.”

The player initially told reporters that Gauff “won the match not because she played incredible” but because “I made all of those mistakes.” After a day of reflection — and some online backlash for her comments — she offered a different stance on Instagram.

“Yesterday was a tough one. Coco handled the conditions much better than I did and fully deserved the win,” Sabalenka wrote on June 8. “She was the better player yesterday, and I want to give her the credit she earned. 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,” she continued. “Time to rest, learn, and come back stronger.”

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Also in her post-match presser, Sabalenka claimed that had she not beaten Iga Swiatek in the French Open semifinal, Swiatek would have gone on to beat Gauff in the final. The 21-year-old later addressed the comment, stating in part, “I mean, I don’t agree with that.”

Gauff — who became first American woman to win the French Open since Serena Williams’ 2015 victory — further addressed Sabalenka’s comments while appearing on Good Morning America two days later on June 9.

She began by acknowledging that Sabalenka “was probably a bit emotional after that match and it was a tough loss.”

“I was a little bit surprised about the comments and everything, but I’m gonna give her the benefit of the doubt,” Gauff added. “I’m sure it was an emotional day, emotional match.”