Novak Djokovic casts verdict on Aryna Sabalenka controversial Coco Gauff comments

Novak Djokovic has leapt to the defence of Aryna Sabalenka after the losing French Open finalist was criticised for what she said about her opponent Coco Gauff.

Having lost the showdown in Paris, Sabalenka indicated that her American counterpart had not played particularly well but instead it was Sabalenka who gifted her the win.

Those comments rubbed plenty the wrong way with Sabalenka being criticised for downplaying her opponent’s achievement but Djokovic said that in the heat of the moment, players do not always say what they mean.

“We all in the end of the day are human beings that have difficult emotions that they have to handle right after they lost a big match,” Djokovic said in Wimbledon. “Grand Slam finals, for example, as she did against Coco.

“Things happen when you’re so – how can I say – heightened with emotions, your blood is running hot. Not always easy to suppress that and put – how can I say – diplomacy ahead, even though I feel like it’s important to pay the respect and acknowledge the success of your opponent that just beat you.

“I saw what she said and everything. I think, well, in the end she clarified it. Look, it happens. Maybe it came out in a wrong way, but she didn’t mean to disrespect Coco.

“Actually most of the times I had in Grand Slam finals with the opponents in the last 20 years, the super majority of the times it was always quite respectful both ways when I would win or lose for my opponent.

“I think tennis really stands out as a very good example of that comparing to other sports. I just actually found out, because I never thought about it, that tennis is the only sport where you have a finalist or runner-up staying for the closing ceremony and getting a chance to say something, which is interesting when you think about it.

“It just talks a lot about the sportsmanship.

“I also like it because it gives you an opportunity as a finalist to pay the respect to your opponent, but also acknowledge everyone involved in the tournament, because there is thousands of people, many volunteers, that come and love Wimbledon, for example, where we are, and the sport of tennis and make it all possible for you to get to the final stages. I think it’s important always to acknowledge everyone involved.

“Is it easy? Is it really flowing and natural when you talk about it? No, absolutely not. You learn how to, I guess, develop this mechanism of how to put aside and suppress those emotions, because it’s more important to pay the respect. It’s more important to really express the graciousness and gratitude in terms of being part of the tournament.

More reaction to Aryna Sabalenka’s comments from Tennis365

Aryna Sabalenka’s controversial French Open comments defended by former world No 1

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“Then when you go to the locker room, obviously you have to let the steam off and kind of filter these emotions in whatever shape or form. It does depend on a person.

“With someone it stays only a few hours, a day. Someone it stays a long time after tough losses like that. I mean, if you see Sinner and Alcaraz, five and a half hours, and Sinner could be very bitter after dropping three match points and dropping that match.

“But he was gracious in his speech and came back and played a good tournament a week after. He’s here. He’s moving on.

“I think it sends the right message also. The rivalry and the way they respect each other, I think it’s beautiful to see.

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