Aryna Sabalenka has reached out to Coco Gauff to apologize for her “unprofessional” comments after losing to the American tennis star in the French Open final. In a recent interview, Sabalenka said she was “super emotional” and not very smart at a post-match press conference where she suggested that Gauff’s win was due more to her own errors than the rival’s performance.
Sabalenka, who finished with 70 unforced errors compared to Gauff’s 30, acknowledged that her remarks were a mistake. She regretted her actions and expressed admiration for Gauff’s achievement, stating that she “absolutely deserved to win the tournament.” The Belarusian tennis star also used the experience as an opportunity to learn from herself, admitting that she sometimes gets emotional during matches.
Despite losing both their final encounters in 2023, Sabalenka emphasized her respect for Gauff and other opponents. She stressed that treating others with respect is essential to her success, regardless of the outcome of a match. The apology marks a valuable lesson for Sabalenka, who is still developing as a player and learning to manage her emotions on the court.
Source: https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/45529538/sabalenka-apologizes-gauff-comments-french-open-loss