Sabalenka: “Worst Final I Ever Played” After French Open Loss

‘Worst Final I Ever Played’ – Sabalenka Reacts to French Open Defeat

Aryna Sabalenka has described her 2025 French Open final loss to Coco Gauff as “the worst final I ever played,” following a dramatic, error-filled performance that saw her fall short of her fourth Grand Slam title.

The world number one committed a staggering 70 unforced errors in her 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 6-4 defeat to the American second seed at Roland Garros — the highest in a women’s singles main-draw match this year.

“It honestly hurts to show such terrible tennis,” said a tearful Sabalenka. “I didn’t handle myself well emotionally, and I made so many mistakes on easy balls.”

Missed Chances and Meltdowns

Aryna Sabalenka was bidding for a first non-hard court Grand Slam singles title

Sabalenka had control early on, racing to a 4-1, 40-0 lead in the opening set. However, she let that advantage slip as Gauff’s consistency and athleticism wore her down in windy conditions.

Despite winning their last encounter in Madrid, Sabalenka once again fell short in a Grand Slam final against Gauff, just as she did at the 2023 US Open.

“It felt like a joke at times. Like someone above was laughing, saying ‘let’s see if you can handle this’,” she added. “Sometimes it looked like she hit the frame, and the ball still landed in.”

Emotional Aftermath

Unlike previous defeats where she added humour to her speeches, this time Sabalenka apologized to her team for what she called a performance that was “terrible” and “overemotional.”

The 27-year-old, who leads the WTA with 40 wins in 47 matches this season and has reached seven finals in 2025, admitted the two Grand Slam losses — including the Australian Open final defeat to Madison Keys — were difficult to take.

Next Stop: Mykonos

Before turning her attention to Wimbledon — where she is considered a strong contender — Sabalenka plans to take a short break.

“I already have a flight booked to Mykonos,” she said. “I need a couple of days to forget this crazy world and just be a tourist.”

Analysis – Sabalenka Still a Wimbledon Threat

Former British number one Greg Rusedski told BBC Radio 5 Live that Sabalenka’s powerful game makes her a serious Wimbledon contender despite the setback.

“If she can stay calm and use her slice serve on grass, she’ll be very dangerous. The new higher bounce on the courts suits her aggressive style,” Rusedski explained.