‘Disappointed’ Andy Roddick Slams Aryna Sabalenka for Her Iga Swiatek Comment on Coco Gauff After French Open Final Defeat

Aryna Sabalenka beat Iga Swiatek in a thrilling Roland Garros semifinal and later, she was defeated by Coco Gauff in the final.

‘Disappointed’ Andy Roddick Slams Aryna Sabalenka for Her Iga Swiatek Comment on Coco Gauff After French Open Final Defeat

Andy Roddick, Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek (Images via X/#AusOpen, Coco Gauff, Jose Moron, WTA)

Aryna Sabalenka made a controversial statement after losing the French Open final to Coco Gauff. In windy conditions, the American came from a set down to clinch her second Grand Slam singles title and denied the Belarusian her first Major of the season.

At the press conference later, Sabalenka said that she played her “worst” tennis. She reached the final after ending three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek’s 26-match winning streak in the semifinals.

According to the three-time Grand Slam singles champion, Swiatek would have defeated Gauff had she played the 21-year-old in the final. She was heavily criticized for this comment by many, including Andy Roddick who questioned her, “What is the point of saying it?“

I didn’t really like what she did in the post-match presser yesterday, talking about how terrible she played and all this stuff and how Iga would have won had she played Coco. I don’t know.

Andy Roddick said on his Served podcast

Gauff has now improved her head-to-head record over the 27-year-old to 6-5 and it was their second meeting on clay this season. Before this, Gauff was defeated in the Madrid Open final by the World No.1.

I was disappointed with her going on and on about it. I was not privy to her press conference when I said that she loses pretty well. I think yesterday was an exception. And I think with time maybe she will regret it, maybe she won’t.

Andy Roddick added

After the backlash, Sabalenka gave the credit to Gauff for the win and for handling the windy conditions better than her. The Belarusian also reiterated that she didn’t play to her full potential, committing 70 unforced errors to Gauff’s 30.

Gauff has reached the championship match of every event she played on clay. After losing to Sabalenka, she was defeated in the Italian Open final by home favorite Jasmine Paolini.

Coco Gauff reveals if she was aware of Aryna Sabalenka’s frustration during the French Open final

Aryna Sabalenka was visibly frustrated during the final against Coco Gauff as she could be seen complaining and turning to her box often when she missed a point or committed an error. Gauff at the press conference was asked whether she knew about Sabalenka’s anger during the match.

Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka (2)
Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka (Image via X/The Tennis Letter, Jimmie48 Photography)

I was aware a little bit but also I don’t pay attention too much, especially against Aryna. I have seen her get mad and then go on a tear so I was just trying not to pay attention to it today.

Before the French Open, Sabalenka was defeated by Madison Keys in the Australian Open final. She is now 3-3 in the Grand Slam singles final, and these defeats came from Americans as Gauff went past her in the final of the 2023 US Open.

At Roland Garros, she was playing her seventh final of the season and was bidding to win her fourth title after her victories in Brisbane, Miami, and Madrid. For Gauff, the French Open was her first title of the season (her first since the 2024 WTA Finals).

Gauff has now reached the championship match of every event she played on clay. After losing to Sabalenka, she was defeated in the Italian Open final by home favorite Jasmine Paolini. She is the youngest American to win the French Open after the great Serena Williams in 2002.

Gauff has ended the clay swing with the most wins on the WTA Tour (18) and before her is Sabalenka with 17 wins. The reigning US Open champion, before the French Open, lost the Stuttgart Open final to Jelena Ostapenko and won the Madrid Open.

Both the players will now be shifting their attention to the grass swing to bid for their first title on the surface. Gauff has never progressed beyond the fourth round, while Sabalenka reached the semifinals twice.

Also read: Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner Break a 14-Year Viewership Record After their Titanic Roland Garros Final