Iga Swiatek failed to defend her French Open title, but she did manage to reach the semi-finals as Coco Gauff won the title.
Aryna Sabalenka thinks Swiatek has lost confidence, making the claim after winning their semi-final at Roland Garros.
Swiatek had previously won the last three French Open titles before WTA number two Gauff secured her first.
Sabalenka thinks Swiatek would have beaten Gauff had they played the final, but it was instead played out between the American and the Belarusian.
And it was Gauff who emerged victorious, coming from behind to defeat the world number one 6-7(5-7), 6-2, 6-4.
Iga Swiatek messages French Open champions Coco Gauff and Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz meanwhile won the title on the ATP Tour, defeating world number one Jannik Sinner in the French capital.
And both the Spaniard and Gauff have now received messages from Swiatek following their titles at the French Open.
She wrote on Instagram: “Thank you Paris and Roland Garros! It’s been an amazing time on and off the court with some great challenges and high-quality matches.
“I’m very proud of the work we put together with my team and I definitely also learned some lessons. Every year in Paris gives me energy boost for the rest of the season and with that being said I’m starting my preparation to the grass season very, very soon.”
“Congrats Coco Gauff and Carlos Alcaraz for your [trophies] and guys… what an absolutely mesmerising tennis we’ve seen from both of you. Wow.”
Gauff was quick to reply to her fellow WTA star, with the 21-year-old saying to the Pole: “Thank you so much Iga [smiley face]!”
Is Coco Gauff vs Aryna Sabalenka the new Iga Swiatek vs Aryna Sabalenka?
Gauff is clearly grateful for the support, which has been a common theme in women’s tennis in recent times.
There is a clear mutual respect among competitors, with that feeling particularly true of American women, who are constantly pushing each other to raise their levels.
At the same time, however, there is still a real competitiveness and many exciting rivalries are undoubtedly playing out.
Swiatek and Sabalenka was one such rivalry, with the pair having battled it out for the world number one spot and for many titles once upon a time.
But there may just be a changing of the tides on the WTA Tour, with Sabalenka and Gauff potentially the next big rivalry.
They also met in the Madrid Open final last month, where the Belarusian defeated the American in straight sets.
Sabalenka remains top of the world rankings heading into the grass season, while Gauff is right behind her in second.
Swiatek meanwhile, a former world number one, has just dropped two places to seventh after the French Open.
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