The star was subjected to immense backlash for her reaction, with Gauff also critical of her opponent. However, Sabalenka has now admitted that the emotion of the situation affected her and has since reached out to her rival.
“That was just completely unprofessional of me,” she told Eurosport Germany. “I let my emotions get the better of me. I absolutely regret what I said back then. We all make mistakes, and I’m just a human being who’s still learning in life.
“I think we all have those days when we lose control. The difference with me is that the world is watching. I get a lot more hate for what I did than other people.”
Referencing her letter to Gauff, she said the American “absolutely deserved” her win in Paris, adding: “I’m the one who always treats my opponents with great respect, whether I win or lose. Without that respect, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
The three-time Grand Slam champion, who claimed she had learned a “tough, instructive lesson” from the saga, has now turned her focus to winning a first Wimbledon title. She remains motivated by her semi-final defeat two years ago, where she lost to Ons Jabeur despite leading by a set and a break.
“We all have the same goal: to win the tournament,” she said. “It’s about how willing you are to go out on the court and compete, even when things aren’t going so well. It’s about how willing you are to go out there and fight for what you want.”
