Coco Gauff says criticism of Aryna Sabalenka's French Open comments went 'too far'
LONDON: It didn't take long for Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka to patch up their relationship after this month's French Open final.
Now as Wimbledon is about to start, Gauff is hoping everyone else can also forget what the top-ranked Sabalenka said in the wake of her loss to the American at Roland-Garros.
A day after dancing together on Wimbledon's Centre Court in a TikTok video, the two tennis players faced more questions on Saturday about the aftermath of Sabalenka's comments right after the final, when she said her loss had more to do with her own mistakes than Gauff's performance.
The Belarusian later wrote to apologize to Gauff and said her comments were "unprofessional," but not before she faced some major backlash from fans and pundits — especially in the United States.
Gauff is trying to make sure the criticism stops.
"I'm not the person that will fuel hate in the world," said Gauff, who opens her Wimbledon campaign against Dayana Yastremska on Tuesday. "I think people were taking it too far. … It was just really targeting and saying a lot of things that I felt were not nice. I didn't want to fuel that more."
Sabalenka, who faces Carson Branstine on No. 1 Court on Monday, said she hopes the TikTok video shows that all is well between the two.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Seattle host pride parades today: Route, time and more
Several American cities are set to end Pride Month with a bang. New York, San Francisco, Chicago, and Seattle are hosting Pride Parades on Sunday, June 29. The event will be both a celebration and a protest. According to Associated Press, Pride events in major US cities are being held against the backdrop of President Donald Trump's attempts to roll back LGBTQ+ friendly policies. Here's everything you need to know about Pride celebrations in major US cities. Major American cities, including New York, San Francisco, Chicago, and Seattle, are concluding Pride Month with parades on June 29. (Photo by Adam Gray / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)(Getty Images via AFP) Also read: Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill' passes key Senate hurdle amid criticism: Key details to know The event kicks off at 11 am ET, according to USA Today. Attendees will cross over 6th Avenue before venturing on Christopher Street. They will walk past the Stonewall National Monument as well. The NYC Pride Parade commemorates the 1969 Stonewall Uprising. The parade will end in Chelsea at 16th Street and 7th Avenue. The theme of the event is 'Rise Up: Pride in Protest.' San Francisco Pride Parade: All you need to know Another major Pride event will be held in San Francisco. The theme is 'Queer Joy is Resistance.' The march starts at 10:30 am local time at the Embarcadero Plaza and ends at the Civic Center. Seattle Pride Parade: Route, timing, theme About 300,000 attendees are expected to be present at Washington's largest and free parade, USA Today reported. The theme is 'Louder.' The march will start at Union Street and 4th Ave at 11 am PDT. The parade will end at 2nd Ave and Denny Way. Minneapolis Twin Cities Pride Festival The two-day festival will conclude on Sunday. The venue is Minneapolis' Loring Park, located at 1382 Willow Street. The Twin Cities Pride Festival will last from 10 am to 6 pm local time. A parade, starting at Third Street and Hennepin Avenue, will be held from 11 am to 2 pm. Chicago Pride Parade The 54th edition of the parade will start at 11 am local time. A total of 150 floats will be used at the event, which follows the theme 'United in Pride.' The march will make its way from Sheridan and Broadway to Diversey and Cannon Drive. FAQs What day is the Pride Parade 2025 in NYC? The parade will be held on Sunday, June 29. Will there still be Pride Parades in 2025? Yes, the London Pride Parade is expected to take place on July 5. Was Pride originally a protest? The first Pride marches were held to commemorate the Stonewall Uprising of 1969.
Mint
2 hours ago
- Mint
Kate Middleton reveals awkward run-in between her dad and Tim Henman at Wimbledon
Wimbledon is one of Kate Middleton's favourite summer events. She's attended the Grand Slam for years. But during one of her earlier visits, she had a moment she still laughs and cringes about. Kate, now 43, spoke about it in a 2017 BBC documentary, Our Wimbledon. It was a funny memory involving her dad, tennis legend Tim Henman, and a small but awkward mix-up. 'My father is not going to appreciate this,' she said in the interview. 'But we were walking past Tim Henman and we had just seen Pete Sampras play.' That's when her dad turned to Henman and said, 'Hi Pete.' 'I was mortified,' Kate said, laughing. According to Hello Magazine, Kate has been a regular at Wimbledon for years. As the royal patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, she often watches from the Royal Box. She usually goes with Prince William. Sometimes, she brings their kids along too. Prince George and Princess Charlotte have already attended matches. Their younger brother, Prince Louis, hasn't yet - but he's a big fan at home. Kate once said he likes pretending to be a ball boy. Her parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, also enjoy the sport. They've been seen at Wimbledon many times. Despite the Henman blunder, Kate and her dad remain very close. Michael Middleton still joins her at Wimbledon now and then. In 2021, they were seen laughing together and taking part in a Mexican wave, reported Hello Magazine. It's clear Kate inherited her love for tennis from her family. She's also passed that love on to her own children. She's said many times how much the sport means to her. Kate has even played tennis on camera before. She once joined Emma Raducanu for a friendly match during a youth event in London. Wimbledon 2025 starts on June 30. It runs for two weeks. Kate is expected to attend, but her schedule hasn't been confirmed. She usually presents the trophies to the champions. Fans are also curious if any of the royal kids will be with her. George and Charlotte have already made appearances. Many are hoping Louis might make his Wimbledon debut this year. For now, fans are just happy to hear Kate share such a funny, honest story. It's not every day a royal admits to being 'mortified' by their dad - even if it's in the Royal Box. She recalled her dad mistakenly greeting Tim Henman as 'Pete,' confusing him with Pete Sampras. Yes, she's a regular attendee and has often presented trophies at the finals. It's not confirmed, but Louis has yet to make his debut at the tournament.
Mint
2 hours ago
- Mint
Beyonce, Jay-Z dominate Paris as celebrity drives fashions biggest trend
Paris, Jun 29 (AP) If any force swept through the fashion industry this season — and sent shockwaves around the globe — it wasn't a new silhouette or a daring colour. It was the spectacle of celebrity. Star power eclipsed fabric and form, transforming the runways of Paris Fashion Week into arenas where A-list icons, K-pop idols, and digital megastars didn't just attend — they became the main event. As the week wraps up Sunday, it's clear: the world is watching not for what's worn, but for who's wearing it. Beyoncé and Jay-Z didn't just attend Louis Vuitton's blockbuster show — they became the story. As they swept into the Pompidou Centre, the entire mood shifted. Cameras flashed. Phones shot skyward. Even before the first look hit the runway, images of the couple rocketed around the globe. The scene encapsulated a truth that every major brand — from Louis Vuitton to Dior, Hermès to Saint Laurent — now understands: The real front row isn't in Paris, but on Instagram, TikTok and Weibo. And nothing sells quite like a star. Beyoncé's head-to-toe denim look — a custom Louis Vuitton creation by Pharrell Williams — sparked headlines worldwide and instantly set the tone for the season. Her ensemble, complete with a cowboy hat and Western belt, became one of the most shared images of fashion week, underlining just how quickly a star's wardrobe can ignite trends far beyond the runway. Her Cowboy Carter tour, however, hasn't been without controversy — a T-shirt worn in Paris referencing Buffalo Soldiers drew criticism online this week from some Indigenous and Mexican communities. And when Williams presented her with a Speedy bag straight from the runway, the moment went viral — striking a powerful note that Beyoncé isn't just an attendee, but the face of Louis Vuitton's creative vision. This is the new dynamic of luxury: The most coveted runway seat is now in your hand, and what matters most isn't just what you see, but who you see wearing it. It's a story that's been told before — celebrity eclipsing fashion — but in a year of global uncertainty, the urge for escapism and the power of star-driven fantasy have reached a new intensity. Show, not just tell: Fashion as spectacle What once was a private preview for buyers and editors is now a worldwide entertainment event. Designers don't just stage shows — they produce spectacles. Williams, Louis Vuitton's showman-in-chief, turned his runway into a snakes-and-ladders fantasy with a guest list to match: Beyoncé, Jay-Z, K-pop royalty J-Hope and Jackson Wang, reggaeton star Karol G, and Hollywood names like Bradley Cooper and Mason Thames. Each arrival triggered waves of posts and stories — making the crowd as newsworthy as the collection itself. The modern runway has become a stage for celebrity, where the applause is measured in views and viral moments, and the line between performer and spectator disappears. No other force is shifting menswear trends faster than K-pop. This season, stars like J-Hope, Jackson Wang, GOT7's Bambam, and NCT's Yuta were everywhere, livestreaming shows and igniting fashion frenzies from Seoul to Sao Paulo. These idols are both tastemakers and trend translators, instantly transmitting what they see in Paris to millions of fans. Their attendance has become a commercial event in itself, driving the adoption of new styles on a global scale. Beyoncé effect Even the clothes themselves now chase celebrity. Beyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter' moment and Louis Vuitton's nod to Western style sent cowboy hats, flared denim, and rhinestone shirts trending worldwide. Brands scramble to turn these viral moments into wearable trends — knowing that what Queen Bey wears in Paris will be copied in malls and on apps within weeks. 'We make fashion, but we're a house of travel,' Williams told reporters. In truth, it's the celebrity's journey through fashion that matters most. The old fashion cycle is gone. It's been said before. Where trends once took months to trickle down, now a celebrity-worn look can reach the high street soon after the show lights dim. TikTok and fast fashion brands move at the speed of the repost. At Hermès, even the discreet luxury of woven leather tees and wide trousers took on new meaning as athletes and music stars documented their attendance. Their posts quickly turn exclusive details into mass-market 'must-haves'. It's a process that global platforms like Shein and Temu have weaponised — transforming a viral runway or celebrity moment into affordable, shoppable trends in a matter of days. The result: What debuts on the Paris catwalk can show up in online shopping carts from Atlanta to Addis Ababa almost instantly. Beneath the celebrity glow, classic trends endure. Streetwear is still king, with oversized silhouettes, soft tailoring and activewear influences everywhere from Dior to Dolce and Gabbana. The Hermès 'cool city guy' and Dolce's pajama dressing — rumpled but rich — are direct answers to how men want to live and move now. But even these trends go mainstream through star power, not just design. The models might debut the look, but it's the front-row faces who make it stick. Williams' very appointment as Louis Vuitton's menswear creative director — a chart-topping musician handpicked by LVMH chief Bernard Arnault in 2023 — was itself a statement: In today's industry, celebrity doesn't just influence fashion, it leads it. Everyone's invited now All this spectacle reflects a bigger shift. Fashion isn't just about what's in — it's about who's in the room, and who's watching. At Armani in Milan, at Saint Laurent in Paris, at every show, a galaxy of K-pop, Hollywood, and music stars now drive the narrative. For Gen Z and Alpha, the runway is no longer about aspiration — it's about participation, sharing, and living in the moment. The 'show' has become the product. In 2025, the biggest trend in men's fashion isn't a garment at all — it's the show itself. And in a season defined by heat, hype and headlines, it's clear: celebrity is the new couture, and we're all in the front row. (AP) PY PY
