French Open controversy: Coco Gauff won because of my mistakes, Aryna Sabalenka says

Is Aryna Sabalenka a sore loser? It would seem so. Remember that clip of her smashing a racket in the locker room after the US Open final? She can be emotional, sometimes over the top.

This time, the world number one took aim at Coco Gauff soon after losing the French Open final on Saturday. The 21-year-old American triumphed 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 at Roland-Garros to win her maiden Grand Slam on clay. Media reports suggest Sabalenka made some uncharitable remarks, implying Gauff didn’t deserve the win and blaming her struggles in the blustery weather.

Sabalenka made a staggering 70 unforced errors in the windy conditions. “Honestly, guys, this one hurts so much,” she told the crowd at Court Philippe-Chatrier. “To show such terrible tennis in the final does really hurt.

“It felt like she (Gauff) was hitting the ball off the frame, and somehow magically it lands in the court. I don’t think she won the match because she played incredible, just because I made all those mistakes,” Sabalenka said.

At the post-match press conference, she added that Iga Swiatek would have won the title had the Pole reached the final. “I think if Iga would have beaten me, she would go out today, and she would get the win.”

Gauff, who became the first American to win the French Open since Serena Williams in 2015, hit back by referencing her recent win over Swiatek in Madrid. “I don’t agree with that. I’m here sitting here (with the trophy). Last time I played — no shade to Iga or anything, but I played her and I won in straight sets (in Madrid),” the world number two said.

“I don’t think that’s a fair thing to say because anything can happen. The way Aryna was playing the last few weeks, she was the favourite to win the title. If you asked me, honestly, who I wanted to play, it was Iga just because I felt Aryna was playing so good, and she was,” Gauff said.

“But regardless of who I played, I think I had a good shot to win. I definitely had that belief,” the French Open champion added.