Novak Djokovic has now given his verdict on Aryna Sabalenka’s post-French Open final comments about Coco Gauff.
Having lost from a set up, the Belarusian cut a distraught figure on court, but remained gracious in the immediate aftermath.
However, when she went for her press conference just after, she came out with some questionable comments that earned her plenty of backlash.
Sabalenka’s French Open comments about Gauff went viral, with the whole tennis world having an opinion.
Djokovic has now shared his.
Novak Djokovic speaks about Aryna Sabalenka’s French Open final controversy
Although his answer was a long one, his in-depth analysis is worth reading as he seeks to understand why Aryna Sabalenka might have done what she did.
Novak Djokovic told his pre-tournament Wimbledon press conference: ‘We are all, you know, at the end of the day, human beings that have difficult emotions that they have to handle right after they lost a big match, Grand Slam finals, for example, that she did it against Coco.
‘And things happen, you know, when you were so heightening with the emotions and your blood is running hot, not always easy to suppress that and put, you know, diplomacy. Even though I feel like it’s always important to pay respect and acknowledge the success of your opponent who just beat you. So I think she did; I saw what she said.
‘I think, well, in the end, she clarified it. And look at if it happens and maybe came out in a wrong way, but she didn’t mean to disrespect Coco and so most of the times I had, you, Grand Slam finals with opponents in the last 20 years, the majority of the times was always quite respectful, both ways when I win or lose with my opponents so.
‘I think tennis really, stands out is a very good example of that, you, compared to a lot of sports and I think I just actually found out, because I never thought about it. Tennis is the only sport where you have a finalist, a runner-up, you know, staying for the closing ceremony and getting a chance to say something. Which is interesting when you think about it and it just talks about the sportsmanship.
‘Also, I like it because it gives you an opportunity as a finalist to pay your respects to your opponent, but also acknowledge everyone involved in the tournament, because there are thousands of people, you know, many volunteers to come and love Wimbledon, for example.’
However, he sympathised: ‘Is it easy? Is it really flowing and natural when you talk about it? No? Absolutely not. But you learn how to, I guess, you know, this mechanism of how to kind of put aside and suppress those, emotions, because it’s more important to pay respect, it’s more important to really express, you know, graciousness and gratitude in terms of being part of the tournament.’
Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff bury the hatchet at Wimbledon
It’s fair to say that, since their arrival at the All-England Club, Coco Gauff and Sabalenka have quashed their beef.
After all, they have both addressed it countless times before, with the American even admitting they were ‘tired’ of talking about it.
Not to mention that, after hitting together earlier this week, they consummated their renewed friendship by making a TikTok together.
These are two of the best and fiercest competitors on the entire WTA tour, and it was only a matter of time before their rivalry spilt over.
The good thing is that it took no time at all for them to rectify their relationship, and can now focus on more important things.
