Sabalenka laments 'dismal finale' as hopes for French Open title are derailed
In a heartbreaking turn of events, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka bemoaned her loss to Coco Gauff at the French Open as "the absolute worst final" she's ever played in! The blustering winds of Paris witnessed Sabalenka's dreams of a fourth Grand Slam title crumble, thanks to a whopping 70 unforced errors and less-than-stellar performance on her part.
Following a hard-fought first set win, Sabalenka found herself falling short as conditions took a toll on her game. The struggling Belarusian found herself on the losing end with a score of 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 6-4. This defeat came after her defeat in Australia, marking her second straight Grand Slam final loss to Gauff.
"I was playing absolute garbage out there today," admitted Sabalenka. "Conditions were appalling and Gauff was the better player in those conditions than me. It was the worst final I've ever played."
Remind you, Gauff earlier snatched the US Open title from Sabalenka in 2023, also emerging victorious from a set-down. In Paris this time around, Gauff outplayed Sabalenka with adaptability in the gusty winds, impairing Sabalenka's performance.
"She didn't play outstandingly well; she just capitalized on my blunders," said the crestfallen Sabalenka. "I felt overwrought. I didn't manage myself well mentally today."
Losing a shot at joining the exclusive club of players with three different Grand Slam titles, Sabalenka struggled with the loss. "I've got to take a few steps back and learn from this, because I can't keep making the same mistakes," she acknowledged. "I shouldn't play like this in a Grand Slam final."
Despite her stellar performances against Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen and Iga Swiatek, Sabalenka couldn't seal the deal when it mattered the most, allowing Gauff to avenge her loss from the Madrid final. Sabalenka seemed confident after these impressive victories, but it was all for naught in the end.
"It stings, man. I've been playing commendably, and then in the last match, play like I did – that hurts," Sabalenka lamented.
Determined to recuperate, Sabalenka plans to take a short break in Greece, hoping to erase the memory of this heart-wrenching loss and brush off for the upcoming grass season and Wimbledon.
A debilitating shoulder injury kept Sabalenka away from Wimbledon in 2022, but she has reached the semifinals in her previous two appearances. Hopefully, a fresh start will help Sabalenka recoup and strive towards more glory in the upcoming tournaments.
Further Reading:
- Coco Gauff ecstatic over her achievement following French Open victory
- French Open 2025: Gauff triumphs over Sabalenka to clinch the title
- Djokovic hints at potential French Open departure following semifinal loss
"Coco Gauff's victory at the French Open might have been a heartbreaking loss for Sabalenka, but it also marks her second straight sports loss to Gauff in a Grand Slam final, reflecting the commencement of a new tennis rivalry."
"Amidst her struggles with the blustering winds and unforced errors, Sabalenka expressed her disappointment by stating, 'It was the worst final I've ever played in sports,' highlighting her desire to improve her performance in future Grand Slam events."
