**Gauff Responds to Sabalenka's Comments After Roland Garros Victory**

Coco Gauff addressed Aryna Sabalenka's post-match comments following her first Roland Garros win, expressing disappointment at the suggestion that she might have lost to Iga Swiatek under similar circumstances. Gauff triumphed in challenging, windy conditions, overcoming a first-set deficit to beat Sabalenka 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 and secure her second Grand Slam title.

Sabalenka, who committed 70 unforced errors during the match, called her performance the "worst final I have ever played." Despite an impressive semi-final victory over Swiatek, Sabalenka could not maintain her winning momentum in the final, marking her second consecutive Grand Slam final defeat.

Reflecting on the match, Sabalenka lamented, "It hurts, especially after playing great tennis all week against tough opponents like Olympic champion Qinwen Zheng and Iga. To then perform badly in the final is really painful." She went on to suggest that Swiatek might have fared better in the final, adding, "I think she would go out today and get the win."

In her press conference, Sabalenka described her frustration further, stating, "It felt like a joke, honestly, like somebody from above was there laughing, like, 'let's see if you can handle this'. I think she won the match not because she played incredible, just because I made all of those mistakes."

Gauff, sitting next to the French Open trophy, disagreed with Sabalenka's assessment. "I respect Aryna and Iga, but I don't agree with that," Gauff said. "No shade to Iga, but last time I played her I won in straight sets. Anything can really happen. Aryna was the favorite to win based on her recent performance, so I think she was the toughest opponent I could have faced in the final."

Gauff also explained how she adapted to the conditions to secure her victory, adding to her 2023 US Open win, also against Sabalenka. "The wind made it tough from the start, but I knew it was about willpower and mental strength. I'm just thrilled with the fight I put up today. It wasn't pretty, but it got the job done, and that's all that matters."

Sabalenka, who had also faced a tough loss to Madison Keys in the Australian Open final, shared her plans to unwind in Mykonos. "I already have a flight booked for some time off with tequila, gummy bears, and swimming. I just need a break to forget about this crazy world and what happened today on the court," she said.