“The worst final I’ve ever played” – Sabalenka blames conditions and her mistakes for Roland-Garros defeat
The world No 1 was self-critical after her defeat in the Roland-Garros final
Aryna Sabalenka ( Dante Badano / Psnewz)
Aryna Sabalenka was visibly heartbroken after losing the Roland-Garros final to Coco Gauff, 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4, and though she congratulated her opponent warmly on the court, she kept her press conference focused closely on self-criticism and analysis of the weather conditions.
“I have to say in the past two weeks I played really tough matches, really incredible players,” she told reporters. “Yeah, I played definitely better level than in the final. It was really honestly the worst tennis I’ve played in the last, I don’t know, in the last I don’t know how many month.
“Conditions were terrible, and she simply was better in these conditions than me. I think it was the worst final I ever played.”
Sabalenka: It felt like a joke
She praised Gauff’s movement, but reiterated how unhappy she had been with the windy conditions with the roof open on Court Philippe-Chatrier – as well as her own mental state.
“In these tough conditions, I couldn’t really mix it up.
“It was tricky. It was tricky in these conditions to do stuff that I was doing, for example, in Madrid that I know I have to do against her to get the win.
“Today was just, yeah, I mean, honestly sometimes it felt like she was hitting the ball from the frame. Somehow magically the ball lands in the court, and you kind of, like, on the back foot. Yeah, it’s just, you know, like — it felt like a joke, honestly, like somebody from above was just staying there laughing, like, let’s see if you can handle this.
“And I couldn’t today. I really hope the next time we play, if it’s going to be the same conditions, I’m going to play probably a little bit smarter, not overrush things, and yeah, try to stay there and try to fight.”
She added: “I think it was more windy, got more windy. Also, I think I was overemotional. I think today I didn’t really handle myself quite well mentally, I would say. So basically that’s it.
“I was just making unforced errors. Like, I don’t know, I have to check the statistics. I think she won the match not because she played incredible; just because I made all of those mistakes from — like, if you look from the outside, kind of like from easy balls.”
“Another terrible performance from me”
The world No 1 was insightful and composed as she reflected on the bigger picture, though.
“I think it’s another tough final in the Grand Slam against Coco. Another terrible performance from me against Coco in the final.
“Yeah, I have to just kind of, like, step back and look at this from the perspective and try to finally learn the lesson, because I cannot go out there every time against her in the finals of the Grand Slam and play such terrible tennis and give those wins, not easily, but like, emotionally, you know?”
After revealing that she has a short holiday booked where she intends to not think about tennis at all, she compared this loss to her defeat at the hands of Madison Keys in the final of the 2025 Australian Open.
“In different ways I can actually see the same thing. Just the level was much better in the third set against Keys. She just basically overhit and went for crazy shots, and it went in. Kind of like overpowered me in the last couple of games.
“And today was just, you know, she literally just put an extra ball on the other side than I did, so…Yeah, I definitely have to, you know, step back and learn something, because I cannot keep doing the same mistake.”
“The worst match I’ve played in the last couple of months”
She concluded: “Sometimes, you know, you go to the old habit.
“And, yeah, sometimes that happen. I guess you just have to, one more time, step back, learn and go out there and be better, you know?
“But right now I don’t see how can I be easy on myself, because honestly, guys, it’s the worst match I’ve played in the last couple of months. It’s just a joke. I cannot do that anymore in the finals.
“I wouldn’t care if I would play like that in, I don’t know, fourth round or quarter-finals, but in the final of a Grand Slam, it’s a bit — it’s a bit not right.”
