“My Words Weren't Aimed at Elina”: Sabalenka Breaks Silence on Viral Controversy
Accused of insulting Elina Svitolina mid-match at the WTA Finals, Aryna Sabalenka has spoken out on Instagram. The world No. 2 explained the circumstances of her outburst and admitted she should have handled her frustration better.
Aryna Sabalenka has broken her silence after the sequence that went viral yesterday at the WTA Finals.
During her match against Elina Svitolina, the Belarusian was accused of directly insulting her opponent, in a particularly tense context due to the war in Ukraine.
Sabalenka issues an apology
A few hours after the clip spread on social media and sparked numerous reactions, the world No. 2 took to Instagram to offer an explanation.
She also issued an apology:
“I want to clarify something that has been circulating online since my last match.
My words were not aimed at Elina. I was frustrated by a small group of spectators who were loudly celebrating my errors in an aggressive way, and I reacted in the heat of the moment.
That said, I should have handled my frustration better, and I apologize to anyone I may have hurt.
Elina played a great match, and I wish her all the best for the rest of the tournament.”
