Us Open: Azarenka-Kostyuk, no handshake between Belarusian and Ukrainian

Sooner or later it had to happen, and indeed it did. A Ukrainian tennis player against a Russian, in this case a Belarusian (a country that supports Putin in his war) who do not shake hands. An absolute chill, the one between Marta Kostyuk, 20, from Ukraine, and Vika Azarenka, 33, from Belarus, who practically ignored each other at the end of the game, exchanging a quick touch of a racket at the end of the game, after the refusal by of Ukraine to shake hands and after the controversy of recent days.

The match

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A match that on the field saw the former world number one dominate Azarenka, who defeated the young rival with a peremptory 6-2 6-3. The bitterness between the two had begun as mentioned in recent weeks, the theme was the fundraising organized before the US Open in order to provide support to Ukraine. The charity event, scheduled for last week, included the presence of some players and some symbolic players of this sport, including Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff and Rafael Nadal. However, the Ukrainian tennis players were not present and the reason is linked to the simultaneous presence of Russian or Belarusian athletes, considered by them simply unwanted. Kostyuk had lashed out against the presence of Azarenka, who then did not participate. “She has never talked to us about the war, we have never seen her take a stand, she does not have a friendly relationship with us, but now she wants to take part in a pro-Ukraine event – said Kostyuk – . She does not speak to us, but she wants to do this. I do not understand. There has been no open help from her towards us ”.

The statements

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In reality, Azarenka had openly sided against the war, but for Kostyuk this was not enough, she did not consider it sufficient, and there had already been sparks in recent months in the player’s council WTA. Perhaps also because of these tensions, the 20-year-old certainly didn’t play her best match, while for the two-time slam winner all this seemed to be fuel in the engine. “I was not surprised – Azarenka said at the end of the game – But I don’t think it’s such a big thing if my opponent gives me his hand or not at the end of the game, I can’t force anyone to do it, it’s her decision. How do i feel? It is not the most important thing in the world. I have never closed my bridges with Marta or with anyone, I have talked about this to the WTA and I have also offered my support. I have always tried to have a dialogue with all of them, my message was very clear from the beginning about this whole thing (the war), I offered money, clothes, I tried to help the children and I will continue to do so “. No repentance from Kostyuk: “Just (shake her hand) I don’t think it’s the right thing to do right now. We had a good match, she is a champion, I respect her as an athlete but I have nothing to do with her ”.