World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka now says that she’s sorry to Coco Gauff. She originally said those things during a post-match press conference following her loss at the French Open earlier this month. After Gauff secured her victory in the final, Sabalenka suggested that her own errors contributed more to the outcome than Gauff’s performance.
In her supporters’ calls for nuance, Sabalenka’s recent statement showed she understood—hers was the tone-deaf response. She later said she was sorry for taking away from Gauff’s moment. She stressed that she wanted to make sure Gauff knew that she should be winning that tournament.
“I was super-emotional and not very smart at that press conference,” Sabalenka admitted. And, no, I’m not particularly thankful for what I accomplished. After receiving it, I spent a good deal of time thinking about it. I went into this with eyes wide open and was eager to learn.
In that match, Gauff exhibited star power in the form of 30 winners, while producing a set-matching number of 30 unforced errors. That performance proved critical in her eventual victory, a triumph that Sabalenka has come to appreciate fully just seven months after the fact.
“That was just completely unprofessional of me,” Sabalenka stated, underscoring her commitment to treating opponents with respect, regardless of the match outcome. “I think she won the match not because she played incredible,” she added, reflecting on her own need for introspection after the loss.
Sabalenka echoed her respect for Gauff, proving once again that respecting your opponents in defeat is as valuable as respecting them in victory. The apology serves as an individual atonement. Most importantly, it honors the discipline, deep commitment, and persistence needed to succeed in the rigorous arena.