After "worst final ever," Aryna Sabalenka set for tequila, gummy bears and “flight to Mykonos”

PARIS, France — After playing in her “worst final ever,” world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka is more than ready to leave the disappointment behind, forget about tennis, and head straight for the beach.

The three-time Grand Slam champion was inconsolable after falling to No. 2 seed Coco Gauff, who came from a set down to win 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4 and capture her first Roland Garros title.

Read More: Coco Gauff battles past Aryna Sabalenka to win first Roland Garros title, second Grand Slam crown

“It felt like a joke, honestly, like somebody from above was just standing there laughing, like, Let’s see if you can handle this,” Sabalenka reflected afterward. “And I couldn’t today.”

Coming off a title run in Madrid, a final in Stuttgart, and arriving in Paris as the top seed, Sabalenka was widely seen as the favorite—especially after defeating three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek in the semifinals.

But windy conditions and a steady, resilient opponent in Gauff—who was the runner-up here in 2022—proved too much to overcome. Sabalenka hit 70 unforced errors to just 37 winners, numbers that sealed her fate against the surging American.

“I think she won the match not because she played incredible; just because I made all of those mistakes… kind of like from easy balls,” Sabalenka told press afterward.

“Right now I don’t see how can I be easy on myself,” she added, “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.”

THE MODERATOR: Aryna, of course not the result anybody would want today, but just looking back at the two weeks, how proud are you of yourself in reaching the final here?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I have to say in the past two weeks I played really tough matches, really incredible players. I definitely played at a 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 months.

Conditions were terrible, and she simply was better in these conditions than me. I think it was the worst final I ever played.

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.

On the bright side, Sabalenka says she has a go-to recovery plan for heartbreak: “Tequila, gummy bears, and… being like a tourist for a couple of days!” she said, cracking her first smile of the press conference.

“I already have a flight booked to Mykonos,” she added. “I just need a couple of days to completely forget about this crazy world and this crazy—if I could swear, I would swear right now—but this crazy thing that happened today…

“I’m just trying to be very polite right now, but you know, there is no other word that could describe what just happened today on the court.”

Sabalenka is next scheduled to compete at the Berlin Tennis Open, a WTA 500 event beginning June 16.