### Coco Gauff Responds to Aryna Sabalenka's Comments After French Open Victory

Coco Gauff has taken a stand against Aryna Sabalenka's comments suggesting she wouldn't have won the French Open final if she had faced Iga Swiatek, stating that it was an unfair assessment. The American tennis star clinched her first Roland Garros title by overcoming World No. 1 Sabalenka in a challenging match marked by windy conditions, ultimately prevailing 6-7, 6-2, 6-4.

Sabalenka, who defeated Swiatek in the semi-finals, ended the Pole's impressive 26-match winning streak at Roland Garros but was unable to secure the title, succumbing to Gauff and marking her second consecutive grand slam final loss. During the post-match press conference, a visibly disappointed Sabalenka lamented her performance, pointing to the 70 unforced errors she committed and calling it "the worst final I have ever played."

"It hurts," Sabalenka expressed. "Having played great tennis all week against tough opponents, such as Olympic champion Qinwen Zheng and Iga, then performing poorly in the final is painful. If Iga had won against me, she would have likely won the title today."

In a press conference that included some extraordinary remarks, Sabalenka noted, "She [Gauff] was hitting the ball from the frame, and somehow the ball landed in the court. It felt like a joke, as if someone from above was challenging me, saying, 'Let's see if you can handle this.' I believe she won not because she played incredibly, but because I made all those mistakes."

Gauff, sitting alongside the French Open trophy, disagreed with Sabalenka's analysis, explaining that she managed the difficult conditions better. "I don't agree with that," Gauff said. "I'm sitting here as the champion. No disrespect to Iga, but I won our last match in straight sets. It's not fair to say anything could have happened differently."

Citing Sabalenka's strong recent performances and her rank, Gauff acknowledged her opponent's status as a formidable challenger. "The way Aryna was playing in the weeks leading up to this, she was the favorite. She was the best competitor I could have faced in the final based on stats alone."

Gauff further elaborated on her strategy and adjustments made during the tough match. "When I felt the wind as I stepped on the court, I knew it would be challenging since we warmed up with the roof closed. I realized it would boil down to willpower and mental strength. It wasn't pretty, but it got the job done, and that matters most," she concluded.

With this resilient performance, Gauff added another significant title to her career, having previously won the 2023 US Open, also against Sabalenka.