World number one female tennis player Aryna Sabalenka came under scrutiny over comments she initially made about Coco Gauff after she lost the French Open final against the American athlete.
But the Belarusian took to social media on Sunday to backtrack on those comments. After losing 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 to Gauff on Saturday, Sabalenka, 27, told reporters that she felt Gauff “won the match not because she played incredible” but “because I made all of those mistakes,” PEOPLE reported.
Sabalenka, however, had a change of tone in her social media post on Sunday. “Yesterday was a tough one. Coco handled the conditions much better than I did and fully deserved the win,” Sabalenka wrote in her post.
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“She was the better player yesterday, and I want to give her the credit she earned. You all know me… I’m always going to be honest and human in how I process these moments. I made over 70 unforced errors, so I can’t pretend it was a great day for me.”
She added: “But both things can be true… I didn’t play my best, and Coco stepped up and played with poise and purpose. She earned that title. Respect. Time to rest, learn, and come back stronger.”
READ ALSO: How much Coco Gauff earns as 1st American woman to win French Open since Serena Williams
Sabalenka’s post on Sunday came after she shared her sentiments about what led to her loss against Gauff, 21. “I think it was more windy. Also I think I was over emotional,” she told reporters in the post-final interview on Saturday.
“Today I didn’t handle myself quite well mentally. Basically that’s it. I was just making unforced errors. 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.”
Sabalenka secured a semifinal victory against Iga Swiatek to book a spot in the final. She also told reporters on Saturday that Gauff would have lost to Swiatek if she had rather made it to the final.
But Gauff begged to differ. “I mean, I don’t agree with that,” Gauff told reporters. “I’m here sitting here [as the champion].”
She continued: “No shade to Iga or anything, but last time I played her I won in straight sets. I don’t think that’s a fair thing to say, because anything can really happen.”
READ ALSO: Coco Gauff refurbishes tennis court she trained in as a child
