The Belarusian player says she assured Gauff that "she absolutely deserved to win the tournament and that I respect her"

Sabalenka had bemoaned her 'terrible' play after the Roland Garros final, saying that Gauff kept hitting shots off the frame of her racket.

(Reuters) -World number one Aryna Sabalenka said she has apologised to Coco Gauff after dismissing the American's maiden French Open triumph, adding that she regrets the comments she made about the 21-year-old after the final.