The last time Aryna Sabalenka gave a news conference after a difficult Grand Slam loss, she handled it badly.
Sabalenka later described her own comments – that French Open champion Coco Gauff had won their final “not because she played incredible [but] because I made all those mistakes” – as “completely unprofessional”.
So a few may have held their breath when the Belarusian arrived to do media after her Wimbledon semi-final loss to Amanda Anisimova.
There were a lot of similarities. Defeat by an American over three tough sets. And crucially, another chance for a fourth Grand Slam singles title gone.
But the world number one addressed it straight away, saying with a laugh: “You’re not going to see the Roland Garros press conference, so anyone who was waiting for that can leave right now!”
She spoke about her own shortcomings, credited Anisimova for being the “braver” player, and honestly assessed her year so far.
There was still a moment or two. Asked about how Anisimova appeared to celebrate a point while Sabalenka was still running for the ball, the world number one said it annoyed her.
But, she added, she was “grateful” for it because it helped her “keep fighting”. Anisimova herself said it was a “long grunt” and not a celebration.
There was also a point during the third set when Anisimova’s shot clipped the net tape and dropped for a winner. Anisimova did not seem to apologise, as is traditional in tennis.
Sabalenka, beaten 6-4 4-6 6-4 on Centre Court, said: “She just wanted, I guess, badly to win this match.
“It’s on her. If she barely got that point and didn’t feel like saying sorry for that tricky situation, that’s on her.”
As she left, Sabalenka stuck her tongue out to the media and joked: “Ha, ha, ha, you didn’t get anything!”