Aryna Sabalenka has taken to social media to apologize and clarify comments she made during Friday’s WTA Finals loss to Elina Svitolina, after her words sparked backlash.
The Belarusian, whose season came to an end with the defeat, was visibly frustrated during the contest, and microphones picked up comments that appeared to be directed toward spectators in the crowd. Many Ukrainians took offense to her words, which subsequently circulated online.
We cannot vouch for the translations in the below tweet, and the audio is very difficult to pick up.
Nevertheless, the words led to a swift apology. On Saturday, Sabalenka issued a statement explaining that her frustration was directed at a small group of fans, and not at her Ukrainian opponent.
“My comment was not directed at Elina,” Sabalenka wrote. “I was frustrated with a small group of spectators who were aggressively cheering my mistakes, and I reacted emotionally in the moment.”
The four-time Grand Slam champion also acknowledged that she could have handled the situation better.
“That said, I should have handled my frustration differently, and I apologise to anyone I offended.”
Sabalenka concluded her statement by praising Svitolina, who advanced to the semifinals with the victory.
“Elina played a great match, and I wish her all the best for the rest of the tournament,” she wrote.
Many on Twitter still believe that Sabalenka should be punished for her remarks, including notable journalist Jon Wertheim.
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