Wimbledon 2024: Coco Gauff Puts Rivalry Aside To Comfort-Dejected Aryna Sabalenka As She Reacts to Her Shock Withdrawal

Sportsmanship is the cornerstone of any sport, and tennis is no exception. Coco Gauff recently exemplified this spirit in her heartfelt sentiments toward one of her fiercest rivals, Aryna Sabalenka. Sabalenka’s withdrawal from the Grass-court Grand Slam due to injury left a void that was keenly felt by both fans and players alike. Meanwhile, Gauff, known for her competitive fire on the court, showed a different side off it. She reached out to comfort Sabalenka, praising her worthy opponent and expressing deep regret over her absence,

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Speaking at the post-match conference after defeating Caroline Dolehide in the first round, Gauff opened up about the absence of Sabalenka. She spoke about the fierce spirit of the 26-year-old and expressed her dismay about her injury. “ It is unfortunate that she had to pull out. She is always a contender… She is such a competitor and I think she is a nice person.” Gauff further said acknowledged the pain of not being able to play, especially after coming so close. “..and I hate, you know, see her not be able to play.” Gauff’s statement is proof of her spirit towards the sport despite the close matches she has faced against the Belarusian player.

Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka have faced each other seven times on the WTA tour. While Gauff leads the head-to-head with 4 wins, she has witnessed upsets at major events including this year’s semi-final defeat at the Australian Open. As for Aryna Sabalenka, she sustained an injury in the quarterfinal match at the Berlin Open.

Playing against Anna Kalinskaya, she was seen struggling with her shoulder and failed to get a good start, trailing 4-1. Soon, the Belarusian star called a medical timeout to have her shoulder and neck area assessed and treated, and she tried to play through the injury. But after another game, Sabalenka decided to retire. This was the first time in her career that she retired from a match. While many had expected her to return for Wimbledon, things did not go as planned for her.