The tennis world is convinced that Aryna Sabalenka said \u201cf\u2013k you\u201d to her rival Elina Svitolina immediately after booking her place in the Australian Open final on Thursday night.<\/p>\n
The two-time champion was on fire as she registered a dominant 6-2, 6-3 victory over her Ukrainian rival.<\/p>\n
But right after winning the final point of the match, she appeared to say \u201cf\u2013k you\u201d under her breath as she celebrated her win.<\/p>\n
Many hypothesised it may have been as a direct response to the Ukrainian player\u2019s stance on Belarusian and Russian athletes.<\/p>\n
Svitolina has spoken openly about the emotional toll of the invasion, previously stepping away from the sport in 2022 as she struggled to cope.<\/p>\n
She now sees her platform as a way to keep Ukraine\u2019s plight in the public eye and refuses to have photos with or shake hands with either Russian or Belarusian opponents, who she feels should be banned from playing tennis while the conflict is still ongoing.<\/p>\n
And while it is unclear if Sabalenka definitely said \u201cf\u2013k you,\u201d given it may have been something else in her native tongue, fans are convinced.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid I see it correctly that Aryna Sabalenka said f* you to Elina Svitolina after the match?\u201d a prominent Australian fan account wrote on X, which was seen more than 20,000 times.<\/p>\n
Debate raged in the comments over whether she could have said something else, but the overall majority were convinced it was nothing other than a stern \u201cf\u2013k you\u201d.<\/p>\n
Others saw the same on the broadcast and took to X.<\/p>\n
Aryna Sabalenka celebrates her victory over Elina Svitolina of Ukraine in the semifinals of the women\u2019s singles at the Australian Open. Mike Frey-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
\u201cSabalenka after beating Svitolina: \u2018F* you\u2019,\u201d another wrote.<\/p>\n
\u201cSabalenka has some words for Svitolina. F*** you,\u201d account Athlete X added.<\/p>\n
Yet while that is speculation, what is clear is that Sabalenka had nothing but praise for Svitolina post-match.<\/p>\n
\u201cAbout Elina [Svitolina], I felt like I didn\u2019t have the opportunity to even say, great job,\u201d said Sabalenka after her semi-final triumph when asked if she had anything to say to her rival.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have it now, so great job, great match, great player, amazing tournament.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, she played incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n
The tense moment capped off a tournament already thick with political flashpoints involving Svitolina, who has repeatedly used her on-court platform to highlight the war in Ukraine.<\/p>\n
A screen displays a message announcing \u201cNo handshake between the players\u201d during the women\u2019s singles semi-final match between Belarus\u2019 Aryna Sabalenka and Ukraine\u2019s Elina Svitolina. AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n
Earlier in the event, the 31-year-old sparked fierce debate by drawing a cross on the TV camera after defeating Russian players Diana Shnaider and Mirra Andreeva, a gesture interpreted as \u201ccrossing out\u201d Russian representation amid the invasion.<\/p>\n
After demolishing Coco Gauff 6-1 6-2, she wrote a clearer message: \u201cThis is for you, Ukraine.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fans were split, one commented on Reddit: \u201cUgh. I can\u2019t support Sabalenka\u2019s opponent on this one. Her sponsor and her politicising even against a 17 yr old kid is something I can\u2019t get behind.\u201d<\/p>\n
But many rushed to Svitolina\u2019s defence, arguing her actions can\u2019t be separated from lived reality. One post read: \u201cIt might not be \u2018nice\u2019, sure, but I cannot begin to imagine how Svitolina, Kostyuk, Oliynykova, Yastremska etc must be feeling \u2026 Whatever, war is horrible and evil and I pray for peace.\u201d<\/p>\n
Elina Svitolina of Ukraine in action against Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals of the women\u2019s singles at the Australian Open. Mike Frey-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
Svitolina has been refusing to shake hands with Russian or Belarusian players and donating prize money to support children in Ukraine. After her loss to Sabalenka, she spoke emotionally about the perspective the war has forced upon her.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m still disappointed that I didn\u2019t go further, but I feel like I should not be allowed to really be sad,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople are really living horrible and terrifying life in Ukraine, so I should not be allowed to really be sad, because I\u2019m a very, very lucky person.\u201d<\/p>\n