Viktoria Azarenka received rough treatment.
Viktoria Azarenka put her wrists together as she left the court after her loss to Elina Svitolina. ZumaWire / MVPHOTOS
Victoria Azarenka had to say goodbye to the boos of Wimbledon as he left his defeater without shaking hands Elina Svitolina after the fourth round match.
Azarenka is Belarusian. Svitolina, on the other hand, is Ukrainian. Svitolina has long refused to shake hands with Russian and Belarusian players because of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
Thus, Azarenka thought she could skip tennis etiquette straight away, as the assumption was that it wouldn’t happen anyway.
– I think it was really unfair. People pick things up and make a big deal out of it, the two-time Grand Slam winner lamented the boos he received at the press conference.
After the match, Svitolina hoped that the women’s tennis confederation WTA would rule that handshakes between Ukrainians and Russians and Belarusians be completely stopped in order to avoid similar situations.
According to Azarenka, she is on good terms with her rival, even though the gestures of good will are currently under wraps.
– I have always had a good relationship with him, but under these circumstances it is what it is. I can’t influence the audience.
– I believe there has been drinking there (in the stands) all day, but what can I do about it.
Azarenka considered the number of spectators to be the biggest problem.
– I haven’t done anything wrong, but I get this treatment. He doesn’t want to shake hands with Russians and Belarusians, and I appreciate that decision. I just did what I thought was respectful of his decision and left the field. It was a great tennis match and people shouldn’t focus on the drunk crowd.
Svitolina, 28, was pleased with the result and the crowd’s reaction to it. The Ukrainian, who became a mother only nine months ago, received a minute-long from the viewers standing ovation.