Olaniyi AyoolaCoco Gauff admitted she was “surprised” by Aryna Sabalenka’s critical remarks after their dramatic French Open final on June 7, where Gauff came from a set down to win 6‑7, 6‑2, 6‑4 and claim her second Grand Slam title . Speaking on Good Morning America, Gauff acknowledged the emotions swirling around the match, saying, “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, visibly upset, initially described it as one of the “worst tennis” performances she’s played in months, attributing the outcome more to her own 70 unforced errors rather than Gauff’s brilliance. She lamented that the windy conditions felt like “a joke,” and said Gauff “won the match not because she played incredible, just because I made all of those mistakes”. Yet later, in an Instagram post, Sabalenka acknowledged that Gauff “handled the conditions much better” and “fully deserved the win,” softening her stance.
Gauff, unflustered, described the windy conditions on court Philippe‑Chatrier as challenging for both, but credited her strategy of forcing errors . She defended Sabalenka’s reaction, calling her opponent “a fighter” and understanding that such a loss would provoke strong emotions.
This French Open triumph marked a significant milestone: Gauff became the first American woman to win Roland‑Garros since Serena Williams in 2015, and it was her second major title, following the 2023 US Open . Now ranked world No. 2, she’s setting her sights on Wimbledon, which begins June 30
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Olaniyi Ayoola
