Aryna Sabalenka (left) has lost both of the Grand Slam finals she has competed in this year Aryna Sabalenka says she wrote to Coco Gauff to apologise for her "completely unprofessional" remarks after the American beat her in the French Open final. World number one Sabalenka put in an error-strewn performance in a 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 6-4 loss to Gauff earlier this month. The Belarusian said afterwards it was the"worst final I ever played", adding: "I think she won the match not because she played incredible [but] just because I made all of those mistakes." Speaking 10 days on from the Paris final, Sabalenka said she "absolutely regretted" her remarks. "That was just completely unprofessional of me. I let my emotions get the better of me," the 27-year-oldtold Eurosport Germany.,external "I'm just a human being who's still learning in life. I think we all have those days when we lose control. "I wrote to Coco afterwards - not immediately, but recently." Sabalenka, a three-time Grand Slam singles champion, has lost both of the major finals she has reached this year. She lost to Madison Keys in the Australian Open final, where she was two-time defending champion, before the defeat by Gauff. She committed 70 unforced errors against Gauff, one of the best defenders on the women's tour, and struggled to keep her composure. "I was super emotional and not very smart at that press conference," Sabalenka added. "It took me a while to revisit it, to approach it with open eyes and to understand. "I realised a lot about myself. Why did I lose so many finals? I kept getting so emotional. "So it was a tough but very instructive lesson for me." Sabalenka begins her grass-court season at the Berlin Open, where she is the top seed, before Wimbledon gets under way on 30 June.
'Completely unprofessional of me' - Sabalenka apologises to Gauff
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"Aryna Sabalenka Apologizes to Coco Gauff for Post-Match Comments"
TruthLens AI Summary
Aryna Sabalenka, the world number one tennis player, has publicly apologized to Coco Gauff for her comments following their match in the French Open final. After suffering a loss with a score of 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 6-4, Sabalenka described her performance as the 'worst final I ever played,' attributing her defeat not to Gauff's prowess but to her own numerous mistakes. In a press conference after the match, she expressed frustration, stating Gauff won primarily due to her errors rather than exceptional play. However, reflecting on her remarks ten days later, Sabalenka recognized the unprofessional nature of her comments and admitted that she let her emotions influence her responses. She emphasized that she is still learning and growing both as a player and as an individual, acknowledging that everyone has challenging days when they lose control over their emotions.
In her recent statements, Sabalenka conveyed deep regret for her earlier comments and revealed that she reached out to Gauff to apologize. She admitted to committing an astonishing 70 unforced errors during the final match, illustrating her struggle to maintain composure against one of the women's tour's top defenders. Sabalenka described her behavior at the press conference as emotional and lacking in judgment, and she has taken time to reflect on the lessons learned from her defeats. This season has been particularly challenging for her, as she has lost both Grand Slam finals she has reached, including a previous defeat to Madison Keys at the Australian Open. As she prepares to begin her grass-court season at the Berlin Open, where she is the top seed, Sabalenka is determined to apply the insights gained from her experiences and improve her performance ahead of Wimbledon, which starts on June 30.
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