Coco Gauff says criticism of Aryna Sabalenka's French Open comments went ‘too far'
LONDON: It didn't take long for Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka to patch up their relationship after this month's French Open final.
Now as Wimbledon is about to start, Gauff is hoping everyone else can also forget what the top-ranked Sabalenka said in the wake of her loss to the American at Roland-Garros.
A day after dancing together on Wimbledon's Center Court in a TikTok video, the two tennis players faced more questions on Saturday about the aftermath of Sabalenka's comments right after the final, when she said her loss had more to do with her own mistakes than Gauff's performance.
The Belarusian later wrote to apologize to Gauff and said her comments were 'unprofessional,' but not before she faced some major backlash from fans and pundits — especially in the United States.
Gauff is trying to make sure the criticism stops.
'I'm not the person that will fuel hate in the world,' said Gauff, who opens her Wimbledon campaign against Dayana Yastremska on Tuesday. '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.'
Sabalenka, who faces Carson Branstine on No. 1 Court on Monday, said she hopes the
For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport
'We are good, we are friends,' the three-time major winner said. 'I hope the US media can be easy on me right now.'
Sabalenka reiterated that she never meant to offend Gauff.
'I was just completely upset with myself, and emotions got over me,' she said. 'I just completely lost it.'
Gauff did acknowledge that she was initially tempted to hit back publicly at Sabalenka, who said the American 'won the match not because she played incredible; just because I made all of those mistakes from ... easy balls.'
But after Sabalenka reached out to apologize, she was quick to bury any grudge.
'I preach love, I preach light,' Gauff said. 'I just want us to be Kumbaya, live happily, hakuna matata, and be happy here.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Arabiya
an hour ago
- Al Arabiya
Carlos Alcaraz loves playing on grass and is trying to win a third Wimbledon title in a row
Carlos Alcaraz's first match on a grass court came just six years ago. He's obviously a quick study. When Wimbledon gets started Monday, the 22-year-old from Spain will play in the first Centre Court match of this fortnight–an honor reserved for the previous year's men's champion. The contest against Fabio Fognini will open Alcaraz's bid for a third consecutive championship at the place. That's something only four men have achieved in the Open era, which began in 1968: Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic. Not bad company. Alcaraz already is 5–0 in Grand Slam finals, which includes going 2–0 at the French Open–which he won three weeks ago via a comeback from two sets down against No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the final–and 1–0 at the US Open. Last year, the No. 2-ranked Alcaraz became the youngest man to win a major trophy on each surface: grass, clay, and hard courts. But he's got a fondness for the green stuff. 'The most beautiful tennis that we can watch is on grass. The style that the people bring to the court when they play on grass… The sound of the ball,' said Alcaraz, who will go into Monday on a career-best 18-match winning streak, including a title at the Queen's Club tournament last weekend. 'The movement is really tough, but when you get it, it's kind of (as though) you're flying.' He loves that it allows him to show off the variety in his game and all of the skills he possesses. Few players smile as much as Alcaraz does while in the thick of things, no matter what challenges might be presented by the foe across the net or the tension of the moment. He is as creative as it gets with a racket in hand, sometimes to his own detriment, and admits enjoying seeing replays on arena video screens after some of his best deliveries (that technology isn't used at the All England Club, but perhaps it should be). 'I really want to hit slices, drop shots, going to the net all the time, playing aggressively,' said Alcaraz, who said he lost to two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray during a round of golf early in the week. 'I think on grass it's the style that you have to play, so that's what I like the most.' It's instructive to hear what Djokovic had to say about Alcaraz after a straight-set loss in last year's final at the All England Club. 'He just was better than me in every aspect of the game,' Djokovic said. 'In movement, in the way he was just striking the ball beautifully, serving great. Everything.' Those words carry weight. Djokovic has won seven of his men's-record 24 Grand Slam trophies at Wimbledon but was the runner-up to Alcaraz in 2023 and 2024. When it comes to the idea of joining an elite group by completing a three-peat in two weeks' time, Alcaraz insisted that isn't the sort of thing he really cares about or spends time considering. He wants the title, yes. But where it would place him in history? Leave that to others. 'I really want to lift the trophy,' Alcaraz said. 'But right now I'm not thinking about who I could join if I win three Wimbledons in a row.'
Al Arabiya
2 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
What does Cristiano Ronaldo's new contract mean for Al Nassr and Saudi Pro League?
Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr delivered the news that fans of the Riyadh club had been longing to hear when they confirmed on Thursday that he would be staying in Saudi Arabia's capital for another two years. Reports of a new two-year contract first emerged in January, however nothing was signed before the end of the season and after Nassr's final Saudi Pro League game of the 2024-25 campaign, Ronaldo posted on social media that 'this chapter is over.' The cryptic message sparked speculation that he would be moving on after two-and-a-half years at Al-Awwal Park, but Ronaldo and Nassr managed to agree terms on a two-year deal, which was announced this week. 'A new chapter begins. Same passion, same dream. Let's make history together,' the Portuguese superstar told supporters, via a post on X. The contract will keep Ronaldo in the Kingdom until at least 2027, when he will be 42 years old. Here, Al Arabiya English explores what the new deal means for Ronaldo, Al Nassr and the Saudi Pro League. A chance to cement Al Nassr legacy Ronaldo has maintained his incredible high individual standards since joining Al Nassr in January 2023, winning two successive Saudi Pro League Golden Boot awards - the first of which saw him set a new record total of 35 goals in a single season. In 2024-25, he finished as the division's top scorer again, despite Nassr struggling to replicate its title challenge of the previous campaign. Ronaldo's 25 Pro League strikes saw him finish ahead of Al Ahli's Ivan Toney and Karim Benzema, captain of champion Al Ittihad. The Portuguese superstar has scored 93 goals in 105 games for Nassr in all, with 74 of those coming in the Saudi Pro League. If he continues at the same scoring rate, he will likely usurp club legend Mohammad Al-Sahlawi's total of 103, though record scorer Majed Abdullah's tally of 189 will likely remain out of reach. But while the individual accolades have continued, Ronaldo has only won one trophy since arriving in Riyadh - the 2023 Arab Club Champions' Cup. Thus far, he and Nassr have fallen short in their attempts to win any of the bigger titles available: the Saudi Pro League, King's Cup, Saudi Super Cup and AFC Champions League Elite. The ex-Manchester United and Real Madrid star has come painfully close on multiple occasions. Nassr pushed a record-breaking Al Hilal side hard in the 2023-24 season before ultimately finishing as Pro League runner-up, as well as losing in the final of the 2024 King's Cup and Saudi Super Cup to its Riyadh rival. In continental competition, Ronaldo has scored freely but again fallen short - reaching the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League last year and the semi-finals of the rebranded ACL Elite this May, before losing to Japan's Kawasaki Frontale. Had Ronaldo left Nassr, it would have been without a major trophy to add to his already bulging cabinet. Now Nassr's captain has the opportunity to cement his legacy by leading the club to notable silverware. A 10th Pro League title is what Nassr fans seek most, though the club has not won the King's Cup since 1990, nor a continental trophy since the 1998 Asian Super Cup. Nassr will compete in the second-tier AFC Champions League 2 in the 2025-26 season and will be overwhelming favorites to win the tournament while, with Ronaldo leading the line, it should be a genuine contender for top domestic honors too. Improving those around him Ronaldo's impact should not only be measured in goals and shirt sales. Although he has already achieved almost everything a player could hope to in professional football, Ronaldo retains a remarkable work ethic - training hard and setting an example to his team-mates. He has helped transform Nassr in terms of culture, ambition, and belief - arriving as a five-time Ballon d'Or winner and record-breaking international goalscorer, and carrying that elite mentality into the Al Awwal Park dressing room. For younger players and established team-mates alike, the opportunity to train alongside someone of his stature has been priceless. 'I'm really happy to play with and learn from the best player in the world,' Al Nassr's Colombian striker Jhon Duran said of Ronaldo earlier this year. 'He's the best sportsperson in the world. I think he's the best footballer. I'm really happy that I can learn from him and have this chance in my career to work with such a huge star. I hope that I can see some action soon and learn everything that he can teach me and follow in his footsteps, which is the most important thing.' Ronaldo's influence goes far beyond pep talks or tactical advice. It is in the way he prepares, trains, recovers, and competes. Staff at the club have frequently spoken about how his professionalism sets the tone for the entire squad. Young players observe how he arrives early, stays late, and maintains extraordinary discipline. That example can help shape careers. Continuing 'The Ronaldo effect' Al Nassr's signing of Ronaldo was the beginning of a transformation of the Saudi Pro League. A few months after he moved to Riyadh, he was followed by the likes of Karim Benzema, Neymar, Riyad Mahrez and N'Golo Kante. It has seen an unprecedented upsurge in interest in the Kingdom's top flight - with broadcast rights sold to every corner of the world. Overseas fans are interested in the Saudi Pro League like never before, with Al Nassr shirts adorned with 'Ronaldo No. 7' now found all around the globe. Social media following Pro League clubs have multiplied several times over, bringing with them new commercial opportunities and fan engagement. Ronaldo has been the catalyst for attracting new eyeballs to the Saudi Pro League and the promise of seeing him turn out for Al Nassr for another two years means more people watching and, crucially, the signing of new broadcast contracts to ensure the division remains on the radar of football fans globally. His continued presence means that momentum does not wane. Domestically, Ronaldo is helping to grow the game too. Matches involving Al Nassr frequently attract bigger crowds, with supporters eager to see one of the sport's all-time greats in action. The Nassr captain has also been a key ambassador for Saudi Arabia's broader footballing vision, which includes nurturing more local talent, hosting major international tournaments, and positioning the Kingdom as a global hub for sport. His commitment through to 2027 aligns with the longer-term ambitions of Saudi football development and the Kingdom's Vision 2030. Just as he has helped improve his team-mates, Ronaldo has also inspired a boost in competitiveness in the Saudi Pro League. Players at opposing clubs regularly speak of their desire to take advantage of the challenge of facing one of the world's greatest players - raising their games accordingly when Ronaldo and other recognizable names roll into town. At 40 years old, Ronaldo continues to defy conventional timelines for professional athletes. His commitment to fitness and performance is unparalleled and while age may inevitably dictate some adaptation to his playing style, there is no sign that his hunger has diminished. For Ronaldo, the next two years represent an opportunity to cement his status in Saudi football history as a genuine architect of change. For Al Nassr, his extension provides the foundation for sporting and commercial continuity and for the Saudi Pro League, it reinforces the Kingdom's ambition to become a force in world football.
Al Arabiya
10 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Nkunku's Extra-Time Goal Sparks Chelsea To Weather-Delayed 4-1 Win Over Benfica In Club World Cup
Christopher Nkunku scored off a rebound in extra time, and Chelsea went on to beat Benfica 4–1 in a Club World Cup Round of 16 match Saturday at Bank of America Stadium. The match was delayed for two hours due to lightning and took nearly five hours to complete. Chelsea advances to play Palmeiras in the quarterfinals Friday in Philadelphia. Palmeiras beat Botafogo 1–0 on Saturday. Nkunku's tiebreaking goal came in the 108th minute with Benfica playing a man down after Gianluca Prestianni received a red card. Moisés Caicedo's left-footed shot from the left side of the box was saved in the center of the goal by Anatolii Trubin, but an alert Nkunku was there to bury the deflection into the top right corner before being mobbed by teammates. Pedro Neto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall added insurance goals in extra time for the final margin. For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app. Reece James scored on a free kick in the 64th minute to give Chelsea a 1–0 lead. But with four minutes left, the match was stopped because of lightning and delayed for two hours. When the teams returned, Chelsea was called for a handball in stoppage time when the ball hit Malo Gusto's hand. Angel Di Maria converted the penalty to even the match. After dominating most of the first half, the English club finally broke through when the 25-year-old James laced a right-footed shot into the bottom left corner of the net. The Portuguese side had a chance to tie it in the 78th minute, but Gianluca Prestianni sent a right-footed shot from the right side of the box just left of the goal. Prestianni held his head in his hands in agony after the miss. In the closing minutes, players were pulled off the field and fans told to seek cover due to lightning strikes in the area, although it did not rain at the stadium. Only a few thousand fans returned for the conclusion. Chelsea entered with a 3–0 record against Benfica and controlled the tempo in the first half with a 5–1 edge in shots on goal. But despite possessing the ball more than sixty percent of the time, the Blues headed to the locker room at halftime in a scoreless tie. The match was not well attended. More than half of the lower bowl of the 75,000-seat Bank of America Stadium was empty, and all but a few hundred seats in the upper deck remained unclaimed as the event continues to struggle with ticket sales in the US even as it moved into the knockout round. Key moment: James' goal gave Chelsea momentum after it failed to convert some decent looks in the first half. Takeaways: Benfica seemed content to play defense most of the match and try to take advantage of its few chances. But the offense could not capitalize on the opportunities it generated. Noteworthy: It was the first two Round-of-16 knockout games at the home of the NFL's Carolina Panthers. Inter Milan meets Fluminense on Monday, with the winner facing either Bayern Munich or Flamengo in the quarterfinals.
