Aryna Sabalenka apologises to Coco Gauff in letter after 'unprofessional' French Open press conference
After an emotional outburst at Roland Garros, Aryna Sabalenka has sent a heartfelt apology letter to Coco Gauff, admitting her comments were “completely unprofessional.” The world number one acknowledged she let emotions take over and affirmed Gauff deserved the win. The pair could meet again at Wimbledon starting June 30.
French Open 2025: Aryna Sabalenka has issued an apology to Coco Gauff after her emotional remarks during the French Open press conference drew criticism. The world number one admitted she “absolutely regretted” her comments, confirmed she messaged Gauff privately, and reflected on what she described as a tough but valuable lesson.
According to reports, Sabalenka first blamed her loss on unforced errors rather than crediting Gauff’s performance. She later walked back those comments on Instagram, stating, “Coco handled the conditions much better than I did and fully deserved the win”.
Speaking to Eurosport Germany, Sabalenka admitted: “That was just completely unprofessional of me. I let my emotions get the better of me. I absolutely regret what I said back then”.
Aryna Sabalenka on post-match comments after loss to Coco Gauff at Roland Garros, ‘I spoke to Coco afterward... I wanted to apologize and make sure she knew she absolutely deserved to win the tournament and that I respect her’
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) June 17, 2025
“That was just completely unprofessional of me. I… pic.twitter.com/9c7ItxIucW
She said she finally reached out to Gauff, telling her, “She absolutely deserved to win the tournament and that I respect her”. Sabalenka explained it took time to reflect: “It took me a while to revisit it, to approach it with open eyes and to understand. I realised a lot about myself. Why did I lose so many finals? I kept getting so emotional. So it was a tough but very instructive lesson for me”.
Looking ahead to Wimbledon: A potential rematch
With Wimbledon starting June 30, both players could face each other again soon. Sabalenka is turning the page as she heads into the grass‑court swing, while Gauff remains focused after her hard‑earned Roland Garros victory. Their next match-up will be watched closely by fans, with many eager to see how Sabalenka’s recent reflection will impact their rivalry.