Coco Gauff ‘Appreciates’ Aryna Sabalenka’s Action After Controversial Remarks About French Open Defeat

Coco Gauff is projected to lock horns with Aryna Sabalenka in the final of the Berlin Open, a warm-up tournament before Wimbledon.

Coco Gauff ‘Appreciates’ Aryna Sabalenka’s Action After Controversial Remarks About French Open Defeat

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

Both Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka want to move on from what happened after their French Open final. Sabalenka, who made 70 unforced errors to Gauff’s 30, claimed that she lost the match because she played terrible tennis.

The World No.1 reached the final after knocking out four-time Roland Garros champion Iga Swiatek in the semifinal. At the press conference after her defeat, Sabalenka claimed that had Swiatek reached the final, she would have defeated Gauff.

Gauff initially thought the comments were not fair. Sabalenka was criticized a lot by several former players as they thought she was not giving credit to Gauff for the win.

The Belarusian then took to Instagram to credit the American ace for the win and lauded her for handling the windy conditions better. Both Sabalenka and Gauff are in Berlin for the grass swing.

Ahead of the tournament, Sabalenka revealed she contacted Gauff and apologized for her “completely unprofessional” comments. Gauff has now spoken about what she felt when Sabalenka reached out to her.

She texted me two or maybe three days ago, she sent a text apologizing. I understand things can get emotional and things can be said. I definitely appreciate the fact that she reached out because I was a little bit surprised by the whole thing. It’s dirt under a rug and we should all move on.

Coco Gauff said in Berlin (H/T: DW)

Gauff took a 6-5 head-to-head lead over the three-time Grand Slam singles champion. It was her second singles Major of her career following the 2023 US Open which she lifted by beating Sabalenka.

Andy Roddick lauds Coco Gauff for a strategy for which she doesn’t get enough credit

There’s one thing that Coco Gauff doesn’t get enough credit for. According to compatriot and former player Andy Roddick, Gauff has the skill of dragging her opponents into the game, taking advantage of certain situations, and forcing them to play badly.

Coco Gauff (2)
Coco Gauff (Image via X/Lindsey Wasson)

The wind was great for her [Gauff], right? Then she didn’t have to go toe-to-toe on the forehand side. She could let the ball flutter up on Aryna Sabalenka, but that’s not an accident. That’s taking advantage of the situation. That’s called strategy, and I don’t know that we give her enough credit for it.

Andy Roddick said on Tennis Channel

Gauff didn’t have much time to celebrate her victory as she is playing at the Berlin Open to chase her first title on grass. Last year, her campaign in the German capital was ended by eventual winner Jessica Pegula in the semifinals.

At Wimbledon, Gauff has never progressed beyond the fourth round, reaching the stage thrice (2019, 2021, and 2024). Last year, she lost her round of 16 match to compatriot Emma Navarro.

Gauff will kick-start her Berlin open campaign against qualifier Wang Xinyu, who knocked out Daria Kasatkina in the previous round. The 21-year-old has met the Chinese ace once and won that match.

They had locked horns at this age of the Berlin Open last year and Gauff had secured that match with a 6-0, 6-4 scoreline. If Gauff reaches the final, she could once again set up a clash with Sabalenka.

Then it will be their third clash this season, following the Madrid Open (Sabalenka won) and the French Open finals. Gauff has so far reached three finals, winning only the French Open. It was her first title since the 2024 WTA Finals.

Sabalenka was chasing her fourth title of the season in Paris following her wins in Brisbane, Miami, and Madrid. Apart from the French Open, the three-time Grand Slam singles champion also reached the final of the Australian Open but lost the title to Madison Keys. In Berlin, she is chasing her first grass-court title and after the warm-up event, she will start her bid for Wimbledon where she was the semifinalist twice and skipped it last year due to an injury.

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