Aryna Sabalenka sends message to Coco Gauff after losing to her in the French Open final, ‘this one hurts so much’

Follow us on Google Discover

Aryna Sabalenka was looking to win her first Grand Slam title of the season with a win over her American rival.

The WTA number one had already picked up three titles in 2025 but was searching for her first at the Grand Slam level.

After Sabalenka lost the Australian Open final to Madison Keys in January, she was no doubt hoping to bounce back with a big win in Paris.

It wasn’t to be, however, as Sabalenka fell in three tight sets to America’s Coco Gauff, 7-6, 2-6, 4-6.

During the post-match ceremonies, Sabalenka shared her thoughts on the final, sending a message to Gauff.

Aryna Sabalenka admits ‘this one hurts so much’ and congratulates ‘fighter’ Coco Gauff

Speaking after the match, Sabalenka gave her immediate reaction to her second consecutive Grand Slam final defeat.

“This one hurts so much, especially after such a tough two weeks playing great tennis and in these terrible conditions to show such terrible tennis in the final really hurt,” she said.

“Thank you to my team for your support. I’m sorry for this terrible final. As always, I’ll come back stronger.”

Sabalenka went on to give credit to Gauff, who clinched her maiden Roland Garros title.

“Coco [Gauff], congrats. In these tough conditions, you were a better player than me,” she said.

“Well done on a great two weeks, and congrats on the second Grand Slam, well deserved.

“You are a fighter, a hard worker, so congrats to you and your team.”

The windy conditions on Court Philippe Chatrier affected both players throughout, although it was Gauff who adapted best in the final.

Sabalenka hit an exceptionally high number of unforced errors as she fell to defeat against the 21-year-old.

The 70 unforced errors Sabalenka produced were the most in a women’s singles match at the French Open in 2025.

Devastated with the defeat, Sabalenka will now try to regroup ahead of the next Grand Slam event, Wimbledon.

Can Aryna Sabalenka bounce back from another Grand Slam defeat and win Wimbledon?

Winning 12 matches across the first two Major tournaments of the year and not winning a title will be a tough pill to swallow for the Belarusian, although she will be glad to know she doesn’t have to wait long until the next Grand Slam.

With Wimbledon beginning in just under three weeks’ time, Sabalenka will soon have another opportunity to lift her fourth Grand Slam title.

Sabalenka reached the semi-finals on her last two visits to the All England Club, narrowly coming up short on both occasions.

• 2023 Wimbledon – Aryna Sabalenka lost in SF to Ons Jabeur, 7-6, 4-6, 3-6
• 2021 Wimbledon – Aryna Sabalenka lost in SF to Karolina Pliskova, 7-5, 4-6, 4-6

In 2023, Sabalenka led by a set to love in the semi-finals against Ons Jabeur before the Tunisian star fought back to win in three.

She’ll be confident of a better showing in 2025, at one of the most unpredictable events on the WTA calendar.

No woman has defended or won multiple titles in London since Serena Williams did so in 2015 and 2016.

Only the previous three champions are still active on the WTA Tour, none of whom look to be in great shape ahead of this year’s event.

Therefore, Sabalenka could be primed to take advantage and win her first non-hard-court Grand Slam title.

She’ll likely face some tough competition from Gauff once more, but would be in desperate search of revenge should they battle it out on the grass.

The 2025 Wimbledon tournament is scheduled to begin on Monday, June 30.