Sabalenka apologises & says viral comment 'not directed at Svitolina'

Aryna Sabalenka, the world number two, has issued an apology after a viral clip showed her swearing during her defeat by Ukrainian opponent Elina Svitolina at the WTA Finals. The Belarusian player's comments were interpreted by some commentators as an insult towards Svitolina or Ukrainians in general. In response, Sabalenka wrote on social media that her words were not directed at Elina, but rather at a group of fans who were aggressively cheering her mistakes.

She admitted that she lost her temper due to the behavior of a small number of spectators and expressed regret for her emotional reaction in the moment. Despite the controversy, Sabalenka praised Svitolina's performance, stating that she wished the Ukrainian player all the best for the remainder of the tournament.