Coco Gauff speaks out on Aryna Sabalenka as tennis stars prepare to renew rivalry after French Open storm
Coco Gauff has spoken out on her feud with fellow tennis powerhouse Aryna Sabalenka after the Belarusians controversial comments following the French Open.
Gauff defeated Sabalenka at Roland Garros, with the world's No 1 saying after the defeat that the loss had more to do with her own mistakes than the American's solid play.
Sabalenka faced major criticism in the public and later apologized to Gauff for her remarks, calling them unprofessional.
Now, on the eve of Wimbledon, and a day after the two were spotted filming a TikTok together on Centre Court, Gauff has spoken out on everything that went down after her French Open triumph.
Gauff did admit to wanting to hit back at Sabalenka, but held off after receiving the apology.
'I'm not the person that will fuel hate in the world,' Gauff said. 'I think people were taking it too far. ... It was just really targeting and saying a lot of things that I felt were not nice. I didn't want to fuel that more.'
'I preach love, I preach light. I just want us to be kumbaya, live happily, hakuna matata, and be happy here.'
Sabalenka also had the chance to set the record straight in front of the press for the first time since leaving France.
'We are good, we are friends. I hope the U.S. media can be easy on me right now.'
'I was just completely upset with myself, and emotions got over me. I just completely lost it.'
Sabalenka starts play at Wimbledon on Monday against Carson Branstine, while Gauff goes against Dayana Yastremska in first-round action on Tuesday.
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