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American commentator Clinton Yates has slammed Aryna Sabalenka for her comments after losing the 2025 French Open final to Coco Gauff. Yates called it an "epic loser meltdown" and claimed no one would take Sabalenka seriously after her remarks.
On Saturday, June 7, Sabalenka lost to Gauff in the French Open final two years after losing to the American in the US Open final. The match was played in windy conditions, and the Belarusian’s frustration was evident through her on-court gestures.
The World No. 1 reached the press conference area surprisingly early and made several controversial comments. She expressed her frustrations about the conditions and claimed she lost because of her own mistakes. Further, the three-time Grand Slam champion even said that if Iga Swiatek reached the final by defeating her, she may have won the event.
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Sabalenka's comments shocked many and were not welcomed. American sports personality Clinton Yates did not hold back in his assessment of them.
"That was one of the most embarrassing press conferences I've ever seen. I'm not even being funny," Yates said during an ESPN broadcast.
"To get up on a stage or on a podium after losing to somebody who you've lost before to as well on such a stage and start going on about how they only won because you didn't play well and the conditions were poor, and the person that had they won would have... had they beat you, would have beat her. Even though Coco Gauff beat Iga Swiatek already," he added.
Sabalenka had started the match strong, but Gauff steadily made her way into the contest. After losing the first set, the American eventually won 6-7, 6-2, 6-4. Yates further said:
"That was an epic loser meltdown for the ages. Are you kidding me? How is anybody supposed to take you seriously after that? You lost to a better tennis player... Whining loser is tennis' biggest problem."
A day after her comments sparked fury among fans and tennis personalities alike, Sabalenka tried to make amends.
Aryna Sabalenka acknowledged she played badly but credited Coco Gauff for her performance after her controversial French Open presser
After a tense and emotional post-match presser in Paris, in which Aryna Sabalenka accused herself of the worst final she ever played, the world No. 1 took a thoughtful step back the next day. On Instagram, she acknowledged that:
"Coco handled the conditions much better than I did and fully deserved the win... She was the better player yesterday, and I want to give her the credit she earned."
Speaking on Good Morning America, Coco Gauff expressed surprise but also empathy, saying:
"I'm gonna give her the benefit of the doubt. I'm sure it was an emotional day, emotional match."
Sabalenka's more measured comments helped ease the controversy, signaling respect amid competitiveness. However, the damage had already been done as she had been criticized by Serena Williams' ex-coach Rennae Stubbs, Ubah Hassan, and others.
