US Open 2022: Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk refused the customary handshake with Belarusian Victoria Azarenka throughout the second-round match. The gamers simply had a fast faucet of the racket after Azarenka defeated Kostyuk in straight units.
Victoria Azarenka celebrates after profitable 2nd spherical. (AP Photo)
HIGHLIGHTSVictoria Azarenka and Marta Kostyuk simply had a fast faucet of the racketAzarenka mentioned she can not drive anyone to shake arms along with herAzarenka mentioned she wished to be a part of USTA’s humanitarian help occasion
The results of the continuing invasion of Ukraine by Russia made its method on the US Open as Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk refused the customary handshake with Belarusian Victoria Azarenka.
The gamers had a fast faucet of the racket on Court 17 after Azarenka defeated Kostyuk in straight units 6-2, 6-3 within the second-round match on Thursday, September 1.
“Well, I wasn’t surprised. I don’t believe that making a big deal out of it is important. I always shake hands with my opponents,” Azarenka mentioned and added that Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska had executed the identical in Washington final month.
“I cannot force anybody to shake my hand. It’s their decision. How did it make me feel? It’s not the most important thing in the world right now.”
Belarus’ Victoria Azarenka beats Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk to succeed in the third spherical of the #USOpen
No love misplaced on the web. No handshake, only a racket faucet. pic.twitter.com/YVAyOpeAd9
— James Gray (@jamesgraysport) September 1, 2022
The incident marked the most recent uneasy second on the yr’s remaining main, the place Russians and Belarusians gamers are competing below impartial flags. Belarus is getting used as a key staging floor for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk has repeatedly known as for the WTA to ban Russian athletes from the tour, saying the invasion made Russian gamers on the tour into “enemies in a matter of minutes”.
Ahead of their second-round match, Kostyuk’s objections pressured Azarenka to tug out of the match’s ‘Tennis Plays for Peace Exhibition’ to lift humanitarian help for Ukraine.
Azarenka mentioned it was a “no brainer” to contribute when she was requested by the USTA to take part within the occasion.
“I thought that this was a gesture that really shows commitment. I’m not sure why it wasn’t taken that way. I don’t want to judge that, that’s what happened,” Azarenka mentioned.
“I can’t force it. I’m not going to go and say, ‘Oh, how dare you?’ It’s not my place. My place is to be there to offer, offer my help, and that’s it.”
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