After Aryna Sabalenka’s controversial post–French Open comments downplaying Coco Gauff’s victory—suggesting Gauff didn’t win because of extraordinary play but rather Sabalenka’s own mistakes—NBA star Draymond Green responded succinctly on Instagram: **“COOK COCO.”**
That two‑word reply wasn’t sugar‑coated—it was a clear show of support for Gauff and a rebuke of Sabalenka’s tone. Gauff had secured the French Open title with a three‑set comeback (6‑7(5), 6‑2, 6‑4), and Sabalenka’s remark that the American “just” benefited from her errors struck many as dismissive .
In the wake of the backlash, Sabalenka clarified via her own Instagram Stories. She emphasized that Gauff “handled the conditions much better,” fully deserved the win, and that both her poor play and Coco’s performance were true: “She was the better player yesterday… Respect.”
Green’s “COOK COCO” emoji‑style endorsement added fuel to the conversation around athlete support and public commentary—making it one of the more memorable online reactions to the unfolding Sabalenka‑Gauff post‑match drama.