‘Great personality’ Aryna Sabalenka defended by Wimbledon champion after French Open row
Aryna Sabalenka has been backed as a “great personality” by former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli in the aftermath of the world No 1’s French Open controversy.
Following her defeat to Coco Gauff in the Roland Garros final three weeks ago, Sabalenka came under fire due to comments she made regarding the match.
The world No 1 claimed that her unforced errors had been key to Gauff’s victory, and that Iga Swiatek would have probably won the final had the Pole beaten Sabalenka in the last four.
The 27-year-old has since clarified her comments and revealed that she sent Gauff a personal apology, after being accused by some of detracting from the American’s triumph in Paris.
With Wimbledon now just days away, the controversy has again emerged, with Sabalenka and Gauff the top two seeds at the tournament – and therefore projected to meet in the final.
However, three-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka has found a welcome form of defence in the form of Bartoli, who triumphed at the All England Club back in 2013.
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Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live ahead of the Championships, former world No 7 Bartoli defended Sabalenka’s personality and reaction to her Roland Garros defeat.
“It’s a tough one,” said Bartoli.
“I am not going to be the one going out and blaming her. We have all been in a situation where you lose the match, you just feel sad, and you just say something you regret.
“I think it’s good from her that she sent an apology. I think Coco [Gauff] will probably have read those apologies and will appreciate those apologies.
“I have been interviewing Aryna for the past four or five years, and she always has that great personality.
“She is always smiling. She always has a great sense of humour. So I really, really like her.”
Defeat for Sabalenka in the Roland Garros final was a second straight major final loss for the Belarusian, who fell to Madison Keys at the Australian Open in January.
Despite consecutive defeats in major finals, the 27-year-old has a comfortable lead as the world No 1 and also leads the WTA Rankings Race to Riyadh, with three titles and seven finals to her name.
Sabalenka will look to bounce back from her French Open disappointment at Wimbledon, where she will look to win her fourth Grand Slam singles title.
She has reached the semi-final of the tournament in 2021 and 2023, losing in three sets on both occasions, and was forced to withdraw from the 2024 Championships due to injury.
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