Belarusian Sabalenka apologises after swearing, denies targeting Ukrainian Svitolina

Aryna Sabalenka reacts during her group stage match against Ukraine's Elina Svitolina

Aryna Sabalenka has apologised after a video of her swearing during her WTA Finals defeat to Ukraine's Elina Svitolina went viral on social media. The Belarusian also denied that her comments were directed at Svitolina or Ukrainians.A clip showing world number two Sabalenka gesturing angrily and swearing in Russian during her 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 defeat to Svitolina was shared on social media on Saturday. Some commentators interpreted her remarks as an insult aimed at Svitolina or Ukrainians in general.Sabalenka later clarified her comments in a social media post, saying that "my comment was not directed at Elina". She said she had lost her temper after some spectators cheered her mistakes."I was frustrated with a small group of spectators who were aggressively cheering my mistakes, and I reacted emotionally in the moment," the 28-year-old wrote."That said, I should have handled my frustration differently, and I apologise to anyone offended."Sabalenka also praised Svitolina for her performance, saying she had played a great match and that she wished her "all the best for the rest of the tournament".

The Belarusian had appeared frustrated during the match and declined to speak to the media afterwards.Asked about Sabalenka's social media post, Svitolina said: “There's many flags and many Ukrainian supporters are here and of course they want me to win in this particular match,”

“I have seen the glimpse of it because obviously it's in the social media, but yeah, I just hope the matches between us are respected. Sometimes in some matches there are not great comments towards me in regards of the war.

It is like this in the social media sometimes that things are turned around a little bit,” she said.Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Svitolina and other Ukrainian players have refused to shake hands with players from Russia and Belarus, in line with a policy set by the Ukrainian Tennis Federation.Svitolina will face Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva in Sunday's final of the $10 million event.