The top-ranked tennis star, 27, faced an online backlash after she initially appeared to downplay the second-ranked Gauff’s 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4 victory, which marked the first time an American has won a singles title at the French Open since Serena Williams did so in 2015.

French Open champion Coco Gauff is responding to her opponent Aryna Sabalenka's comments after the women's final on Saturday. After the game, Sabalenka told the press in part, "I think she won the match not because she played incredible; just because I made all of those mistakes ... kind of like from easy balls."

It was the first No. 1 vs. No. 2 final in Paris since 2013, when Serena Williams defeated Maria Sharapova, and just the second in the last 30 years.