Sabalenka Apologizes Amid Ukrainian Slur Uproar

Elina Svitolina won the match. Aryna Sabalenka’s angry words became the controversy.

Their showdown at Indian Wells Tennis Garden ended with the Ukrainian advancing and the Belarusian heading out of the WTA Finals. But footage of Sabalenka apparently swearing during Friday’s match soon drew attention beyond the Coachella Valley, amid allegations that her outburst included an anti-Ukrainian slur

Social media users interpreting her lip movements offered two versions: a profanity-laced attack on Ukrainians generally, or a sexist insult aimed at a Ukrainian woman—rendered in some circulating translations as “Ukrainian b****.”

That is the heart of the controversy, but also its unresolved point. The clip’s exact wording has not been independently verified, and the competing translations should not be mistaken for a confirmed transcript.

Sabalenka apologized Saturday, November 14, while denying that Svitolina was her target.

“My comment was not directed at Elina,” she wrote on Instagram. She blamed her frustration on a small group of spectators aggressively celebrating her mistakes, acknowledged reacting emotionally and apologized to anyone offended.

Her statement acknowledged an outburst. It did not confirm the alleged wording.

For Svitolina, the encounter unfolded against circumstances far larger than tennis. Since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, launched partly through Belarus, she has declined postmatch handshakes with Russian and Belarusian opponents. Friday was no exception.

Asked about Sabalenka’s apology, Svitolina called for respect and said previous encounters had included unwelcome comments concerning the war.

The tennis itself left little room for argument. Svitolina defeated Sabalenka 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, breaking twice in the deciding set. It was a round-robin match with a semifinal berth at stake—not a quarterfinal—and ended her five-match losing streak against Sabalenka.

Then she kept going.

On Saturday, Svitolina dispatched Linda Noskova 6-2, 6-1 in just 65 minutes. Her reward: a championship rematch against Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva, who defeated her earlier in the tournament.

Sunday’s final is scheduled for noon on November 15 on Stadium 2. While debate over Sabalenka’s words continues, Svitolina has a title to pursue.