Coco Gauff Taking The High Road In Sabalenka Rivalry As Wimbledon Begins

Coco Gauff is known not only for her impressive achievements on the tennis court, but also for her positive outlook and commitment to being a role model.

Sabalenka and Gauff | Wimbledon

Rival. The Merriam-Webster dictionary succinctly defines a rival as "one of two or more striving to reach or obtain something that only one can possess."

Rivals and their rivalries define sports competition. As the Los Angeles Lakers had the Boston Celtics, we also witnessed Magic against Bird.  

The legendary Bill Russell contended with the physical prowess of Wilt Chamberlain. The once-dominant Yankees carry a long-standing feud against the Red Sox.  

In tennis, rivalries between Björn Borg and John McEnroe, as well as Martina Navratilova and Chrissy Evert, produced many iconic championship moments.   

The Williams sisters had 31 skirmishes with one another, but it was Sharapova, Henin, Hingis, Capriati, and Azarenka that Serena had the most triumphs over.

Today, Coco Gauff versus Aryna Sabalenka. No. 1 battling No. 2, with the second-ranked player, Gauff, getting the better of Sabalenka in more ways than on the tennis court.  

Unfortunately, after Gauff defeated Sabalenka in an epic three-set match at Roland-Garros, the world's top women's tennis player ate a mouthful of sour grapes with negative post-match commentary directed at Gauff.

"At first, it was a little tempting just because the apology did come a little bit later," Coco Gauff said as to why she didn't immediately respond to Sabalenka's dismissal. "I thought it was gonna come pretty quick. But after that, I mean, I didn't want to feel more hate. I'm not the person that will feel like hate in the world. And I think people were taking it too far. It wasn't even like more holding someone accountable."

We must give Gauff plenty of credit. She didn't take the bait with a "clap back." Instead, the American remained professional and gracious as she carried the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen trophy around the court and in her media appearances.  

The two-time Grand Slam champion won both of her titles against the top-ranked Belarusian. She's been more media-savvy and composed than compared to her counterpart. Also, she's focused on winning the third Grand Slam tournament on the mythical courts of Wimbledon.

She expanded on the emotional whirlwind: "I didn't want to feel more hate. I'm not the person that will feel like hate in the world. And I think people were taking it too far. It wasn't even like more holding someone accountable. It was just really targeting and saying things that I felt were not nice."

Aryna Sabalenka | BBC Sport

"I did what I did, and I got what I deserved," Aryna Sabalenka said in her first Wimbledon press conference. She continued, "Well, we've always been really good with Coco. Honestly, as I said in my statement and in my message to her, I didn't want to offend her. I was just completely upset with myself, and emotions got over me, and I just completely lost it. I was just completely upset with myself, and emotions got over me, and I just completely lost it. I wanted to say it in person to her, but I wasn't sure if she was coming to Berlin, so I messaged her to apologize and make sure she understood that I didn't mean to offend her. And, of course, she has my respect; she knew it, she knows it. I'm happy that she was like, 'All good, don't worry.' And yeah, as you saw in the video, we were good. We were friends. So, I hope the U.S. media can be easy on me right now."

Gauff's humility in the face of provocation is more than just good PR—it's a conscious effort to be a positive role model. "If I'm thinking about my brothers watching me, that's what I would want them to do," she shared.  

Navigating rivalries and resolving conflicts is as much a part of professional sports as breathing. For Coco Gauff, managing the off-court drama is about creating a legacy that is bigger than winning any single match.

Most believe the olive branch was more for Sabalenka than Gauff. Her approach has already inspired countless young athletes to see grace under pressure not as a weakness but as a powerful strength.

As Wimbledon approaches, the tennis world will be watching her every move on the court — and every word of it. One thing is sure, Gauff is determined to demonstrate that it is possible to compete at the highest level without compromising her values.

Coco Gauff's journey is about more than just rackets and results; it is about resilience, responsibility, and redefining what greatness looks like. In a sport thirsty for rivalries and drama, Gauff's commitment to "love and light" may very well be her most powerful asset as she steps onto the hallowed grass of Wimbledon.

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