BeIN SPORTS Apologizes After Commentator Calls Sabalenka 'Horrible' on Air at the WTA Finals

A routine player introduction at the WTA Finals took an uncomfortable turn on Monday, and the broadcaster spent the rest of the night apologising for it. As the camera stayed on Aryna Sabalenka during her introduction in Indian Wells, a beIN SPORTS France commentator could be heard saying, “Look, look… she looks horrible,” apparently believing the microphone was off. The clip spread across social media within hours, fans demanded the commentator be fired, and beIN SPORTS France’s programming director publicly condemned the remark. Sabalenka answered the only way available to her on the night: she beat Karolina Muchova 7-6(2), 7-5 in her opening match.

What was actually said on the broadcast?

The remark came during the pre-match presentation package, while Sabalenka was on screen in the outfit from her WTA Finals portrait shoot, Sportskeeda reports. A clip shared by the tennis account Tiempo De Tenis showed the moment: the camera focused on the Belarusian, and a commentator could be heard saying, “Look, look… she looks horrible.” The microphone appeared to have picked up the remark without the speaker realising it was being broadcast, EssentiallySports reports.

Another tennis account, L’Arene, shared the clip and tagged beIN SPORTS France, calling the remark shameful and urging the broadcaster to respond. The footage spread across social media, where viewers criticised the comment about the world No. 2’s appearance. Coco Gauff called out racist abuse aimed at her during the China Open last month, which drew a condemnation from the UN Human Rights Office; this one drew a broadcaster’s apology within hours.

How did beIN SPORTS respond?

Quickly, and from the top of its programming operation. Florent Houzot, beIN SPORTS France’s director of channels, programming and editorial, addressed the incident publicly on X, Sportskeeda reports. “I regret and strongly condemn the remarks made live on air this evening during the WTA Finals broadcast,” Houzot posted. “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.”

EssentiallySports reports Houzot also made clear the comment did not represent the broadcaster’s values. The response is an official acknowledgment of the incident, and it came the same evening, which is the part that separates this case from the last time a commentator was caught this way.

Who was the commentator?

That part is not settled. Sports.fr identified him as Matthieu Solier, who was preparing to call the match, Sportskeeda reports. But beIN SPORTS has not confirmed the identity, and no disciplinary action has been announced, EssentiallySports reports. The identification therefore rests on Sports.fr’s reporting alone, and this article does not present it as confirmed by the broadcaster.

The gap matters because it is the difference between an apology and an outcome. Houzot condemned the words; nobody at beIN has yet said who said them or what happens to them. That is the open question the next run should check, and it is named in this article’s refresh triggers.

What did fans say?

They wanted more than an apology. As the clip circulated, fans denounced what they called unprofessional behaviour and demanded accountability, Sportskeeda reports. “This sounds like disgraceful and extremely unprofessional behaviour from one of your commentators. I hope they will be punished, and I hope Sabalenka will not do anymore interviews with this broadcaster again,” one fan wrote. Another posted: “And a man, hahaha. Criticizing a woman. They should identify him and ban him from tennis courts.” Several fans argued the commentator should be fired. A club tennis team at the University of Maryland was suspended last month over racist imagery sent to other teams, which is a reminder that tennis keeps having this conversation at every level of the sport, not only on television.

Has this happened before?

Yes, at the same tournament, two years ago. In November 2024, Tennis Channel commentator Jon Wertheim remarked on Barbora Krejcikova’s forehead during coverage of the WTA Finals in Riyadh, while he appeared to believe he was taking part in a rehearsal, EssentiallySports reports. Krejcikova publicly criticised the comments, calling them unprofessional and asking sports media to show greater respect for athletes. Wertheim subsequently apologised, explained how the exchange reached the broadcast, and accepted responsibility. Tennis Channel also issued an apology and announced that Wertheim had been removed from its broadcasts indefinitely.

The two incidents involve different broadcasters and different circumstances, and there has been no confirmed announcement of a comparable suspension in Sabalenka’s case. The parallel is the pattern, not the punishment: a hot microphone, a remark about a player’s appearance, a clip that does the rounds, and a broadcaster forced to answer for it. This time the answer came faster; whether the consequence matches is still unknown.

What happened on court?

Sabalenka won, and the win was harder than the scoreline looks. She beat Muchova 7-6(2), 7-5 in one hour and 53 minutes, Sportskeeda reports, recovering from a break down in both sets after Muchova served for the opening set. Her serve was not at its best: seven double faults, four aces, and 59 percent of first serves landed, EssentiallySports reports. After the match she pointed to the changing light as one reason for the difficulty. “It was a bit tricky with the sun [and] with the shade. Sometimes I had to adjust my toss, sometimes I had to serve blind, but it’s all part of the game,” Sabalenka said.

It was her sixth consecutive appearance at the season-ending tournament, and she is still seeking her first WTA Finals crown after finishing runner-up in 2022 and 2025, EssentiallySports reports. The defending champion is already out: Elena Rybakina pulled out of the tournament on Saturday, and the players’ association has turned her withdrawal into its case against the 11-month calendar. Next for Sabalenka is Mirra Andreeva on Wednesday, after the 19-year-old beat Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-0 in 70 minutes. Sabalenka leads their head-to-head 4-2, though Andreeva won their last meeting in the 2025 Indian Wells final, and the top two seeds both fell early at the China Open last month, so nothing at this tournament is following the seedings.