Gauff: "I hate losing, especially in finals"
The American could not overcome a great Sabalenka, although she stated that the defeat serves as motivation to be motivated in the future.
What a tournament Cori Gauff had at the Mutua Madrid Open 2025. The American reached the final after defeating rivals like Dayana Yastremska, Ann Li, Belinda Bencic, Mirra Andreeva, and Iga Swiatek. She delivered stellar performances and didn't drop a set until the final, where she was outplayed by Aryna Sabalenka's initiative (6-3 7-6). Gauff thus reached her first final of the year and proved to be a very dangerous player on clay as well. She went through the press conference to assess her week.
- 8 double faults in such a crucial match
"She started strong. I had to take risks on my second serve, hence the multiple double faults. My first serve percentage wasn't good today (55%, compared to Sabalenka's 69%), so I had to try to dominate with the second serve. If I had hit more first serves, maybe the match would have gone differently. My serve has been a great weapon this week, I wish I could have used it better today. I think she capitalized on her opportunities, and I didn't manage to put pressure on her."
- Sabalenka's level
"I think she has improved overall. We have played about ten times, and it's always tough when I face her, and I don't think she played any differently today than in the past. The last time, my serve was better, and I won. Now maybe she moves better and has more confidence, which is why she's achieving these great results."
- Confidence for Roland Garros
"I'm playing well in general; probably today I was too passive, but I'm happy. To be honest, I think today was the first day I was really tested, besides the first round (0-6 6-2 7-5). There are many positives to take, especially after the past few weeks where I wasn't feeling very confident. I'm heading in the right direction even though I lost the final, which is a feeling I don't like (laughs)."
- Feeling after the loss
"I hate losing, especially in finals because you feel so close. I prepare for these matches, and the truth is I hate losing too much. Today was tough, but obviously, I would sign to lose here to win in other places in the future. Every moment is a learning experience, and maybe I needed to feel this defeat to be motivated again for the next challenge."
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Gauff: "Odio perder, especialmente en finales"