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.”