World number one Aryna Sabalenka has acknowledged that Coco Gauff fully deserved to win the Roland Garros title.
Sabalenka`s comments follow her statement made during her post-match press conference yesterday after her semifinal loss. She had said that if Iga Świątek had defeated her in the semi-final, Świątek “would have gone out and taken the title,” a remark interpreted by some as dismissive of Gauff.
Later, Sabalenka clarified her position, writing: “Yesterday was a tough day. Coco handled the conditions much better than me and fully deserved the win. She was stronger yesterday, and I want to give her credit. You all know me… I will always be honest and react to everything as a human. I made over 70 unforced errors, so I can`t pretend it was a great day for me. But both things are true – I didn`t play my best tennis, and Coco came onto the court focused and determined. She deserved this title. Respect. It`s time to rest, reflect, and come back stronger.”
Marcus Prine