Elina Svitolina refuses to shake hands with Aryna Sabalenka

"People have the audacity to blame Aryna Sabalenka for this mess?" - Tennis fans react to Elina Svitolina saying Belarusian 'inflamed' situation by waiting for handshake

Modified Jun 07, 2023 10:00 GMT

Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the French Open semifinals by defeating Ukraine's Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-4. After the match, Svitolina continued her stance of refusing to shake hands with players from Russia or Belarus, due to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Sabalenka was seen patiently waiting for Svitolina at the net for the customary handshake. But the Ukrainian walked past her without extending her hand, subsequently receiving boos from the crowd.

Eurosport

@eurosport

Aryna Sabalenka gets the better of Elina Svitolina to advance to the French Open semi-finals!

The two do not share a handshake at the net

#RolandGarros

When asked during a press conference whether she believed Aryna Sabalenka "inflamed" the situation by waiting at the net, Elina Svitolina replied in the affirmative.

"Yeah, I think so, unfortunately," she said. "I don't know, to be fair, what she was waiting, because my statements were clear enough about the handshake. Secondly, no, it was quite expected. I was expecting that. Whoever in this situation loses, I guess, gets booed, so I was expecting that. It was not a surprise for me."

Elina Svitolina's comments stirred a wave of reactions from tennis fans, who took to social media to express their opinion. One user claimed that Aryna Sabalenka acted knowingly, and that it would be apt if all Russian and Belarusian players followed suit and went to the net.

"I think Aryna knew what she was doing. All the Russians and Belarusians should go to the net. The Ukrainians need to always be the ones to refuse the handshakes. I’m glad that’s over. Time to focus solely on the tennis," the user wrote.

Trudy Seivwright MD

@SeivwrightTrudy

@josemorgado I think Aryna knew what she was doing.

All the Russians and Belarusians should go to the net. The Ukrainians need to always be the ones to refuse the handshakes.

I’m glad that’s over. Time to focus solely on the tennis.

Another account came to Sabalenka's defense, writing:

"Sabalenka would’ve been even more villainized if she just went to her bench or celebrated per usual after winning or celebrated her victory on court as players usually do AFTER handshakes! I saw it as her affording Svitolina the opportunity to rise above it all."

Nicholas APTR

@aphoto2remember

@josemorgado Sabalenka would’ve been even more villainized if she just went to her bench or celebrated per usual after winning or celebrated her victory on court as players usually do AFTER handshakes! I saw it as her affording Svitolina the opportunity to rise above it all.

Here are a few more reactions from tennis fans:

Anselm

@Root_boi

@josemorgado Tell me you're not tired of Ukraine Athletes at this point

Rovshan

@rovitaghiyev

@josemorgado This is so sad. What is Sabalenko have to do with anything going on in Ukraine?And people have the audacity to blame Sabalenko for this mess?

🏳️‍🌈🅼🅰🆃🅴🅾 ⭐⭐⭐

@MateoAR2023

@josemorgado I'm fed up with Ukrainian players having such a bad attitude. I understand the people in Ukraine and their suffering, but if Elina is so supportive of her country she shouldn't be playing tennis in tournaments where Russians and Belorussian are allowed to compete.

Mia

@mementoo_vivere

@josemorgado Well if she walked away it would be Aryna's statement. Without her at the net there would be no handshake to refuse, it would be Aryna who refused it.

iza

@rzaalv

@josemorgado I mean she did what every player do... if she doesnt she would get booed like kasatkina, that's Elinas decision not to shake hands so she should deal with the consequences not aryna (no disrespect for svitolina, i just understand Aryna)

Francesco Fiore

@FrancescoFiore_

@josemorgado She did what all tennis players do after the match.
She respected you, so we don’t care about your statement.
Stop giving her faults

Sports Expert (Max) 🔥 Bo to CLE

@sportsexpert101

@josemorgado Sabalenka is much more respectable than Mrs. Monfils or however she calls herself

Arianna

@AriannaTenisci

@josemorgado It’s called having manners. Aryna was just waiting to give her space to shake hands with the umpire without running into each other and would have been criticized even more if she had just avoided coming to the net. The girl can’t even breath without someone getting offended

"My initial reaction, don't know, was like, 'What are you doing?" - Elina Svitolina

Elina Svitolina in action at the 2023 French Open - Day Eight

Elina Svitolina revealed that when she witnessed Aryna Sabalenka waiting at the net, her initial reaction was one of confusion as she couldn't comprehend the purpose behind the Belarusian player's action.

"My initial reaction, don't know, was like, what are you doing (smiling)? Because, yeah, all my press conference I say my clear position. So I don't know," Svitolina said.

"Maybe she's not on social media during the tournaments, but it is pretty clear. I made multiple statements that I'm not shaking hands, and she played obviously Marta as well the first round. So is quite simple, you know," she added.

Edited by
Arshit Garg