The tennis community seems to think Aryna Sabalenka directed a “fk you” at Elina Svitolina on Thursday night right after her win that put her in the Australian Open final.
It was an intense match, and Sabalenka, a two-time champion, secured a convincing victory, 6-2, 6-3, over her Ukrainian opponent.
However, as she celebrated her triumph, it looked like she may have muttered “fk you” under her breath. Many people speculate that this might have been in response to the attitudes of Ukrainian players towards their Belarusian and Russian counterparts.
Svitolina has been very vocal about the emotional impact of the ongoing conflict and had previously taken time off in 2022 due to the strain. Now, she uses her visibility in tennis to highlight Ukraine’s situation, choosing not to take photos or shake hands with players from Russia or Belarus. In her view, competing while the war continues feels inappropriate.
While the exact words from Sabalenka remain uncertain—some fans suggest it could have been something else in her native language—reactions have been mixed. A prominent Australian fan account on X posed the question, “Was Aryna Sabalenka right to call Elina Svitolina an asshole after the match?” This sparked a debate with over 20,000 views, where the majority seemed to believe it was a straightforward “fk you”.
Others mirrored these sentiments, with one supporter tweeting something similar, underscoring the perception that there was a pointed remark.
Despite this talk, Sabalenka expressed nothing but respect for Svitolina after the match: “I felt like I didn’t even get a chance to say great job,” she remarked in her post-match interview. “I got it now, great job, great game, great players, great tournament. Yeah, she played great.”
This incident adds another layer to an already politically charged tournament. Svitolina has consistently made statements during her matches to underscore the situation in Ukraine.
Earlier in the tournament, she made headlines by crossing out the name of the Russian team on camera after winning against Russian players, which stirred up considerable discussion. Following a match against Coco Gauff, she made a poignant declaration: “This is yours, Ukraine.”
Fans have varied in their support. Some on Reddit expressed difficulty in backing Svitolina, partly due to her sponsors and their political leanings. Others defended her stance, suggesting her actions are rooted in the reality of the war. One user commented, “It may not be a ‘nice’ thing, but I can’t imagine how Svitolina and others feel… War is terribly evil, and I pray for peace.”
Svitolina has remained firm in her refusal to shake hands with players from Russia and Belarus, instead choosing to donate her prize money to aid children in Ukraine. After her defeat, she spoke emotionally about her struggles, saying, “I still feel bad that I couldn’t go further, but I feel like I shouldn’t really be sad. I shouldn’t allow myself to feel sad because people are living a horrible life in Ukraine, while I’m a very lucky person.”
The semi-final match also had its own share of drama, with Sabalenka fueled by an early interference call. “I was really angry with her. It actually helped me and benefited my game,” she shared. “I was more aggressive.”
In the end, despite the surrounding controversy, Svitolina continues her impressive return to the top 10 after her maternity leave, and Sabalenka is once again headed to the Australian Open final.
