Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk said she would not shake hands with rivals Russia and Belarus at the Australian Open.
In September 2022, the 20-year-old refused to shake hands with Belarus representative Victoria Azarenka after they met at the US Open (2:6, 3:6) due to her opponent’s position on the situation in Ukraine.
– I haven’t changed compared to what happens in Ukraine and on tour. Whoever clearly objects to it has every right to be on tour, but whoever doesn’t…I think that’s just inhumane. I usually don’t tell anyone about Russian and Belarusian tennis players. I hardly ever greet them,” Kostyuk quoted Reuters as saying.
At the start of the Australian Open, Kostyuk defeated American Amanda Anisimova with the score 6:3, 6:4. In the second round, the Ukrainian will face Australian Olivia Gadeki. The match is scheduled for January 18, starting at 03:00 Moscow time.
Previously, the Australian Tennis Federation (Tennis Australia) banned the use of the Russian Federation and Belarus flags in the stands during Australian Open matches.
Reuters
Source : MatchTV
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