Coco Gauff counters Aryna Sabalenka's Roland Garros claim by saying she 'wanted' Iga Swiatek in final

Disappointed and frustrated aren’t strong enough words to describe what Aryna Sabaelnka was feeling after losing out on adding the Roland Garros title to her Grand Slam trophy haul Saturday. Wounded, perhaps, does slightly more justice.

On a day where Sabalenka described her 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4 defeat to Coco Gauff as “the worst final I ever played”, the world No. 1 concluded her press conference by expressing her belief that had she lost to Iga Swiatek in the semifinals, the Pole would have gone on to clinch a four-peat in Paris.

“If Iga would win me another day, I think she would go out today and she would get the win. Yeah, it just hurts,” said the three-time major winner. "Honestly hurts. I've been playing really well, and then in the last match, go out there and perform like I did.”

Sabalenka notably ended Swiatek’s 26-match win streak at the clay-court major, but Gauff also had a recent win over their mutual rival—sweeping Swiatek over a pair of 6-1 sets to reach the Madrid final before losing that 1000-level championship to Sabalenka.

Upon hearing what Sabalenka said, Gauff understanbly saw it far differently.

“I don't agree with that. I'm here sitting here (laughter). Last time I played—no shade to Iga or anything—but I played her and I won in straight sets. Yeah, I don't think that's a fair thing to say, because anything can really happen,” she said.

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

Given the way this season had played out to this point, Sabalenka wasn't the woman Gauff was hoping to see across the net. Swiatek's last title run came at 2024 Roland Garros, while the top seed came into Saturday's clash with a 40-6 record and three crowns from six finals in 2025.

See it: Coco Gauff celebrates Roland Garros title with parents, toasts champagne at Tennis Channel set

“Honestly the way Aryna was playing the last few weeks, she was the favorite to win," Gauff said. "So I think she was the best person that I could have played in the final. Her being No. 1 in the world was the best person to play, so I think I got the hardest matchup just if you go off stats alone.

“Obviously, Iga being a champion here, it was going to be a tough match either way. ButI think regardless of who I played, I think I had a good shot to win. I definitely had that belief. If you asked me, honestly speaking to you guys who I wanted to play, it was Iga just because I felt Aryna was playing so good, and she was.”

Gauff has now won both of her majors against Sabalenka from a set down, adding to her 2023 US Open breakthrough. The Delray Beach. Fla. resident now leads their head-to-head record 6-5.