Friendship on Display at Wimbledon
LONDON (AP) — The speculation surrounding any residual tension between Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka following their clash in the French Open final has been put to rest, as the two athletes showcased their camaraderie through a spirited dance at Wimbledon. Sharing the moment on social media, Sabalenka celebrated their friendship with a playful caption, highlighting how their TikTok dance brought them closer together.
Social Media Moments
In an Instagram post featuring the duo dancing to the iconic 1990s anthem “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)” by C+C Music Factory, she expressed her delight, stating:
“TikTok dances always had a way of bringing people together.”
Meanwhile, Gauff, an avid TikTok participant, also contributed to the social media buzz with a clip that featured the pair playfully gesturing outside Wimbledon’s Centre Court. In the video, they enthusiastically lip-sync to a welcoming phrase:
“OK, guys, we’re back. Did you miss us? ’Cause we missed you.”
Gauff humorously added in her post:
“the olive branch was extended and accepted! we’re good so you guys should be too.”
Preparing for Wimbledon
The two stars, ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the world respectively, had an intensive practice session together on the iconic grass court in preparation for Wimbledon, which kicks off on Monday. This interaction follows their recent encounter at the French Open, where Gauff triumphed over Sabalenka in a challenging final with a scoreline of 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4.
After that match, Sabalenka faced backlash for attributing her loss to her own errors rather than complimenting Gauff’s performance, calling her post-match comments “unprofessional” in hindsight. She later reached out to Gauff to express her apologies.
Looking Ahead
Sabalenka, hailing from Belarus, is a seasoned Grand Slam champion with three titles to her name and has finished as the runner-up in the finals where Gauff, 21, secured her major victories, including at the U.S. Open 2023. Should both athletes continue their paths of success in the tournament, a potential showdown awaits them in the final on July 12.
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Howard Fendrich has been covering tennis for the AP since 2002. To follow more of his reporting, visit the AP tennis section.
