The drama off the court at Wimbledon 2025 might just be more explosive than anything seen inside Centre Court. Days after Coco Gauff’s emotional early-round exit shocked fans worldwide, a new twist has emerged — and it’s turning into one of the most talked-about tennis feuds in recent history.
In the aftermath of her defeat to Dayana Yastremska, Coco Gauff allegedly pointed fingers not just at her own performance but at fellow tennis star Aryna Sabalenka, accusing her of being a “distraction” and claiming that she “made me lose.” The remarks, reportedly made in frustration behind closed doors, sent the internet into a frenzy. And now, Sabalenka has broken her silence — and she’s not holding back.
Speaking to reporters during a tense Wimbledon press session, Sabalenka looked composed but unmistakably disappointed. “I can’t pretend it was a great day,” she said, referencing the fallout of Gauff’s claims. “It hurts when someone suggests you’re the reason they lost, especially when there was no bad intent.”
The heart of the controversy traces back to a now-viral TikTok video posted days before the tournament, in which Gauff and Sabalenka danced and laughed together on Centre Court. What seemed like a lighthearted pre-tournament moment has now been weaponized in whispers and accusations. According to insiders, Gauff later regretted the collaboration, calling it a distraction that threw off her focus and suggesting Sabalenka used it as a “mental trap.”
Sabalenka, however, is pushing back hard. “I thought it was just fun,” she said. “We were two athletes sharing a moment before battle. I didn’t realize it would turn into this.”
What’s more, she’s not backing down from how she feels about the accusation. “I’ve lost matches. Big ones. And I never blamed another player for what happened to me on the court. You win or lose based on your game. That’s it.”
Her words have added fuel to an already blazing fire, with fans now split down the middle — some rallying behind Gauff for her honesty, others siding with Sabalenka’s more stoic response. The tennis world, never short on rivalries, may have just birthed its next great one.
Social media has been ablaze since the story broke. One fan tweeted, “This isn’t just a loss — it’s a friendship gone cold on global display.” Another wrote, “Sabalenka didn’t sabotage her. Gauff lost, and now she’s looking for someone to blame.”
So far, Gauff hasn’t addressed the comments publicly, but the silence is deafening — and telling. The two stars haven’t spoken since the incident, and both are now walking very different paths through the rest of the tournament.
Whether this drama fizzles out or explodes in their next on-court meeting, one thing is clear: Aryna Sabalenka wants the world to know she’s no one’s scapegoat. “I’m not the villain here,” she said firmly. And with those five words, the stage for a fierce, personal rivalry may have just been set.