‘Not because Coco Gauff played incredible’ – Aryna Sabalenka gives surprise reason for French Open final loss

Aryna Sabalenka was critical of herself as she faced a crushing loss to Coco Gauff at the finals of the 2025 French Open. The current World No.1 admitted that she displayed the ‘worst’ form against the American, as she showed her disappointment during the post-match press conference in Paris.

The Belarusian started off strong and clinched the first set in a tie-break to take an early lead. However, the rain started pouring, bringing some noticeable change in the conditions on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Racking up a total of 70 unforced errors and six double faults in the match, Sabalenka was seen getting frustrated with her play as she even screamed at her coaching team as she lost momentum.

After suffering a heartbreak for the second time in a major tournament this season, Sabalenka said that her mistakes were the reason she lost the match, claiming that Coco Gauff didn’t outplay her but capitalized on her setbacks. At the post-match press conference, she said:

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“I think it was more windy. Also I think I was over emotional. Today I didn’t handle myself quite well mentally. Basically that’s it. I was just making unforced errors. I don’t know. I have to check the statistics. I think she won the match not because she played incredible. Just because I made all of those mistakes, if you look from the outside, from kind of easy balls.”

She also looked back at her past performances at the tournament and condemned the quality of tennis she displayed on the court against Gauff. Aryna Sabalenka added:

“The first two weeks I played really tough matches... I definitely played a better level than in the final. It was honestly the worst tennis I’ve played in the last I don’t know how many months. Conditions were terrible. She was simply better in these conditions than me.”

Sabalenka also brought up her final loss to Madison Keys at the 2025 Australian Open.

"I played better with Madison Keys": Aryna Sabalenka

Aryna Sabalenka was shattered after her loss at the finals of the French Open and said that her performance against Madison Keys in the finals of the 2025 Australian Open, which she lost as well, was better than this.

"I played better with Keys in the final. I have to learn something from this not to lose finals," Sabalenka said.

She also stated that if Iga Swiatek had taken on Coco Gauff instead of her, she would have won, commending her ability to tackle tough conditions.

"I think that if Iga had won against me, she would have won this final today," she added.

Irrespective, Sabalenka will still retain her top spot in the world rankings.

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Aatreyi Sarkar

Aatreyi Sarkar is a tennis journalist at Sportskeeda. Currently pursuing a degree in Comparative Literature from Jadavpur University and a U.S. State Department scholar at The University of Kansas, she blends her academic background with her passion for storytelling.

Aatreyi sources accurate information from social media platforms to stay updated on the latest developments and fan discussions. She strives to produce engaging, insightful, and experimental content that connects with readers, aspiring to make tennis more accessible and captivating for fans around the globe

She finds immense inspiration in Novak Djokovic, whose incredible comebacks and relentless determination motivate her to approach her work with the same passion. Roland Garros is her favorite tournament, cherished for its unique clay-court challenges and historical importance.

Though new to professional writing, Aatreyi has been an avid debater and quizzer since middle school, showcasing her analytical skills and creativity. Outside tennis, she is a passionate cricket fan, baker, and reader who enjoys exploring literature beyond academic constraints.

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