Sabalenka Apologized to Coco Gauff for 'Unprofessional' Viral Comment At Roland-Garros

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka said she wrote an apology to Coco Gauff for what she called "completely unprofessional" comments made after losing to the 21-year-old in the final of the 2025 French Open.

“It was just completely unprofessional of me. I let my emotions get the better of me. I absolutely regret what I said back then," Sabalenka said in an interview with Eurosport Germany (translation h/t The Athletic's Charlie Eccleshare).

Sabalenka continued: “I think we all have those days when we lose control. The difference with me is: the world is watching. I get a lot more hate for what I did afterwards than other people. But what I also want to say is that I wrote to Coco afterwards — not immediately, but recently.

“I wanted to apologize and make sure she knew she absolutely deserved to win the tournament and that I respect her. I never intended to attack her. I was super emotional and not very smart at that press conference.”

Sabalenka initially said after the June 7 final that it was the conditions of the court and her mistakes, not Gauff's play, that led to the American's 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4 victory at Roland-Garros.

"In the final it was really, honestly, the worst tennis I've played in the last I don't know how many months," Sabalenka said after the loss. "And the conditions were terrible, and she simply was better in these conditions than me, and I think it was the worst final I ever played."

Sabalenka added: "I think I was overemotional. I think, today, I didn’t handle myself quite well mentally. Basically that’s it. I was just making unforced errors, I don’t know. I have to check the statistics. I think she won the match, not because she played incredible, just because I made all of those mistakes. Like, if you look from the outside, kind of from easy balls."

Sabalenka initially appeared to walk back her comments in a statement shared on her Instagram story after her loss, in which she said she wanted to give Gauff "the credit she earned."

"I made over 70 unforced errors, so I can't pretend it was a great day for me," Sabalenka wrote. "But both things can be true... I didn't play my best, and Coco stepped up and played with poise and purpose."

Gauff told Good Morning America after her win that she wanted to give Sabalenka the "benefit of the doubt" regarding her comments.

"I know she was probably a bit emotional after that match, and it was a tough loss," Gauff said. "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."

Sabalenka surged out to a 4-1 lead in the first set at Roland Garros before Gauff rallied to even the score. The world No. 1 won the tiebreak but was unable to overcome Gauff's dominance as she struggled with unforced errors in the next two sets.

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