Aryna Sabalaenka Admits Texting Coco Gauff to Apologize for Harsh Comments

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Vivek Devane | Last updated Sep 6, 2025 4:17 AM ET

Aryna Sabalenka is just one win away from adding another Grand Slam title to her name as she prepares to face Amanda Anisimova in the US Open final at Flushing Meadows. The Belarusian has enjoyed a spectacular 2025 season, surging ahead in the rankings race and putting herself in a strong position to end the year as the world No. 1.

But in the lead-up to the final, Sabalenka also chose to revisit a difficult moment earlier in the season—the aftermath of her French Open final defeat to Coco Gauff. Following her loss in Paris in June, Sabalenka’s post-match comments sparked backlash when she suggested Gauff’s victory came more from her own mistakes than from the American teenager’s brilliance.

The remarks were met with criticism from fans and media, who felt Sabalenka had downplayed Gauff’s performance. Reflecting on the incident now, the 27-year-old admits she regrets how she handled the situation.

“I was just upset. And honestly, it was also like a lesson for me, you know, just like to take my time,” Sabalenka said in a recent interview with Whoop. “I was super mad at myself, and I made all of those comments, even though I don’t really think that. Yeah, and I felt so bad afterwards.”

Sabalenka revealed that she later reached out to Gauff privately to apologize. The American’s gracious response left Sabalenka relieved and at peace.

“I’m really glad that I messaged Coco, and I’m really happy that she’s such a nice girl, that she was like, ‘Girl, it’s okay, don’t worry, we’re friends and we’re good. I got it,’” Sabalenka recalled. “It was a tough moment, and definitely never going to happen again.”

With that chapter behind her, Sabalenka now has her eyes firmly set on the US Open crown. A victory in New York would not only cap off a dominant season but also strengthen her grip on the top spot in the year-end rankings.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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