Aryna Sabalenka refused to repeat a "completely unprofessional" moment following her 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 defeat to Amanda Anisimova at Wimbledon as she addressed the previous incident in her post-match press conference.
The world number one failed to reach a Wimbledon final for the third time on Thursday as she lost in three sets to America's Amanda Anisimova.
It was a devastating defeat for tournament favourite Sabalenka but the Belarusian was humble in defeat, describing Anisimova as "the better player" as the 23-year-old booked her place in a first major final against Iga Swiatek.
Sabalenka's reaction to losing on Centre Court was certainly different to her extraordinary outburst following last month's French Open final, when she suggested that the result was more due to her own errors rather than Coco Gauff's performance.
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In fact, she told the crowd it was the worst she'd ever played in a Slam final and argued that four-time champion Iga Swiatek would have beaten Gauff had she reached the final instead of her.
Sabalenka would later brand her comments about Gauff "completely unprofessional" and revealed she wrote to the American to apologise.
“That was just completely unprofessional of me,” she told Eurosport. “I let my emotions get the better of me. I absolutely regret what I said back then. We all make mistakes, and I’m just a human being who’s still learning in life."
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A month later and following her defeat to Anisimova at Wimbledon, the world number one addressed the French Open incident almost immediately after walking into the post-match press conference.
"You're not going to see the Roland Garros press conference, so anyone who was waiting for that can leave right now," she smiled.
Sabalenka added that she doesn't want to face that sort of hate again. "We're all people. We all can lose control over our emotions. It's absolutely normal," she said.
"Every time when I was really that close in that match today to completely lose it and start — I don't know — yelling, screaming, smashing the rackets, I keep reminding myself that's not an option."
Sabalenka admitted Anisimova was "more brave" than she was in the semi-final, adding: "Maybe when I was just trying to stay in the point, she was going for all. She was playing more aggressive."
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As she left the press conference on Thursday, Sabalenka proceeded to stick her tongue out to the media, saying: "Ha, ha, ha, you didn't get anything!"
Jack Kenmare