Aryna Sabalenka's opening match at the WTA Finals has been overshadowed by controversy after a French journalist was overheard calling her "horrible" during live coverage on beIN SPORTS. The incident prompted the broadcaster to issue a statement condemning the remarks.
On-Air Comment Sparks Backlash
French journalist Matthieu Solier was heard saying, "look, look, look, she's horrible," while a promotional video played during an ad break before Sabalenka's match against Karolina Muchova. Solier has worked for beIN SPORTS since April 2012, according to his LinkedIn profile, after previously working for L'Equipe TV.
An account on X shared the clip online, where it received over 100,000 views, and flagged it to the French Audiovisual and Digital Communication Regulatory Authority (Arcom).
Broadcaster Responds
Florent Houzot, beIN SPORTS director of broadcast operations for programming and editorial, responded to the incident. Houzot said: "I regret and strongly condemn the remarks made live on air this evening during the WTA Finals broadcast. These comments do not reflect the values of beIN SPORTS. I reaffirm our commitment to treating all athletes and contributors on our broadcasts with respect."
Earlier this year, Houzot suspended commentator Daniel Bravo for just under a month after Bravo made sexist remarks about Paris FC Féminines sporting director Gaetane Thiney. The former France international said "she is not very attentive" and "I have the impression that she was talking about lingerie", then corrected himself to say "clothes". Houzot said in a statement to AFP: "I informed Daniel Bravo this morning of his suspension with immediate effect, a decision that he understands perfectly. He obviously deeply regrets his remarks, and he called Gaetane to apologise."
Sabalenka Wins On Court
It is unclear at the time of writing whether any further action will be taken against Solier. On the court, Sabalenka beat Muchova 7-6 (7-2), 7-5.
Speaking afterwards on court, she said of her opponent: "She's such an incredible player. Always tough battles. I was just trying to stay calm and focus point by point. She can come back any time. You have to be focused from beginning till the end. I'm super happy with the level I played. To get the first win, it's really important. Great start."
In a separate interview with Sky Sports, Sabalenka added: "That was a tough battle, always tough matches against her. She's such a high IQ player I have to say, and every time you have to be focused, you have to be ready for anything and you have to play smart. I'm super happy that I was able to start with the win."
