Aryna Sabalenka has offered a public explanation and apology following the controversy surrounding her comments made after losing the 2024 French Open final to Coco Gauff.
The Belarusian tennis star, speaking during media availability ahead of the Cincinnati Open, addressed the backlash over remarks that many interpreted as dismissive of her opponent’s performance.
Immediately after the final in June, Sabalenka was asked to evaluate the factors that contributed to her defeat.
In her response, she attributed the outcome to emotional instability and unforced errors, suggesting that Gauff‘s performance was not the primary reason for the result.
“I think it was more windy. Also, I think I was overemotional,” she said at the time. “Today I didn’t handle myself quite well mentally… I think she won the match not because she played incredible. Just because I made all of those mistakes, if you look from the outside, from kind of easy balls.”
The comment quickly drew criticism, with some suggesting that Sabalenka had downplayed Gauff‘s accomplishment on one of the sport’s biggest stages. The backlash prompted the world No. 2 to reflect on her response and take steps to clarify her intentions.
Sabalenka issues clarification and personal apology
Speaking in Cincinnati, Sabalenka acknowledged the emotional difficulty of facing media duties immediately after a major final and admitted that her frustration influenced the tone and content of her post-match remarks.
“Some people don’t really understand the intensity of everything,” she said. “When you lose the final of one of the biggest tournaments and you go to media straightaway, you’re so frustrated, so angry at yourself. You don’t think clearly, and you make a comment that doesn’t reflect who you are the rest of the time.”
Sabalenka described the period following the French Open as a time of introspection. She eventually issued a direct apology to Gauff through a written letter, in which she expressed regret for her choice of words and emphasized her respect for the American player’s performance.
“That was just completely unprofessional of me,” Sabalenka said. “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.”
Although the apology was not immediate, Sabalenka stated that she believed it was important to personally reach out to Gauff. A TikTok video posted later by both players, showing them dancing together, appeared to confirm that the two had moved past the incident.
Sabalenka characterized the experience as a difficult but valuable lesson in emotional control and public accountability.
She noted that it had helped her grow both as a competitor and as a public figure, and that she hoped her clarification would give fans and observers better insight into the challenges athletes face under pressure.
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