British Tennis Forum

indiana wrote:

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I have just watched a recording of Sabalenka's post final press conference and in the main I found it a quite interesting honest assessment from a very frustrated player.

I didn't see the match but from everything I have heard the conditions were awful, she got too emotional and played badly.

Well she certainly acknowledged in spades that she played badly, and did think she let her emotions get to her. And folk had seen the conditions she talked about.

What was very clearly lacking was any praise for Gauff other than a kind of grudging she handled the conditions better. Saying that she ran around a lot and hit high balls often seemingly off the frame did leave it very lacking!! - and I am sure she did rather more than that. And say a sharing comment like the conditions sure made it tough for both of us might have been good.

Out of interest, from these who saw the match, did Gauff play that much good tennis or was her level comparatively low too in a match largely confined by the conditions? ( given the closeness of the match their general levels must have been pretty similar  ). Whatever, Sabakenka should definitely have given her more credit ( like more than virtually none! ) even if not actually saying she played particularly well. Sometimes players are arguably insincerely praising on such occasions but she did need to give more credit and that was the really bad part of the PC.

Not her finest 10 minutes but she can be a good listen, often quirky and self dreprecating. Good to have her around.

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 I watched the whole match. I think the first thing to say is that the conditions were very difficult. However, these are the number 1 and 2 players in the world and the conditions were the same for them both.

Sabalenka started very well and it looked as it it might be quite one-sided. However, Gauff found a decent level after about 5 games of the match and from then on Sabalenka basically imploded.

It was an interesting match but, though gripping, not of very high quality. Over 100 points were decided by errors from either player.  There were some good rallies but the conditions made it difficult. Gauff won because on the day she was the better player. She was also the far smarter player. Sabalenka's tactics were to basically try to hit harder and scream even louder. I really don't think I've seen a number 1 player in the world mentally collapse in such a manner as yesterday. Her continual shouting at her box and emotional outburst almost every time she lost a point must have been exhausting. So much energy taken up in such a negative way.

Gauff moved and defended especially well, particularly in the 3rd set which would not have been so close Had Gauff's serve been better. 

I don't agree with Sabalenka's assessment. Yes she made a lot of errors but many were forced upon her by Gauff's exceptional defensive skills. The fact that Sabalenka played basically brainless tennis does not and should not be allowed to diminish the fact that Gauff played very well, was clearly the more mature and professional athlete and thoroughly deserved her victory.

Had this press conference been on the court then I can at least mitigate for the salty comments. However, it wasn't. Of course I can understand her disappointment but in my opinion you win with style and lose with grace. 

She's the number 1 player in the world, a potential role model for young players and in some ways the flag bearer for the women's game. if you can't control what you say in the press conference then ask for it to be delayed a bit. I'm sure that would be arranged. yes acknowledge that you didn't play well, acknowledge that you lost the plot mentally but at least have the good grace to offer positive words about how well your opponent played.