"Trying to make herself the victim" - Tennis fans do not take kindly to Aryna Sabalenka waiting for handshake with Elina Svitolina at French Open

Tennis fans were far from pleased with Aryna Sabalenka waiting for Elina Svitolina for a post-match handshake after their French Open quarter-final clash.

Sabalenka booked her place in the semi-finals of the clay-court Major for the first time in her career by beating Svitolina 6-4, 6-4. After the match, Aryna Sabalenka waited for Elina Svitolina at the net but the Ukrainian maintained her tradition of not shaking hands with players from Russia and Belarus and walked straight to the chair umpire.

The 28-year-old was later booed by the crowd on Court Philippe Chatrier.

Several fans were displeased with Sabalenka waiting for Svitolina at the net despite the 'no-handshake' stance maintained by Ukrainian players. One fan wrote that the Belarusian knew her opponent would not shake her hand and tried to make herself the 'victim' by waiting at the net.

"Omg that was awkward… Sabalenka perfectly knew Svitolina wasn’t going to shake her hand, what was she thinking waiting her at the net.. trying to make herself the victim and Elina the bad one," the fan's tweet read.

Another fan stated that Sabalenka waiting for Svitolina at the net provoked the boos from the crowd.

"That's actually quite provocative from her, Dasha (Kasatkina) showed class, have to appreciate her," the fan's tweet read.

One fan claimed that Sabalenka's behavior was 'debatable' as she knew that Svitolina would not shake her hand.

"Also debatable behavior from Sabalenka at that net. She knows she’s getting no handshake so what is she doing? Interesting close up then on the little smile she sends to her box while Svitolina is getting booed," the fan's tweet read.

Here are some more fan reactions:

Aryna Sabalenka will take on Karoline Muchova in the French Open semi-finals

After overcoming Elina Svitolina, Aryna Sabalenka will next take on Karolina Muchova in the semi-finals of the French Open. The Czech reached the last four of a Grand Slam for the second time in her career by beating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 7-5, 6-2.

Sabalenka and Muchova will lock horns for the second time on tour. The Belarusian previously beat Muchova 7-5, 7-6 (4) in the semi-finals of the 2019 WTA Elite Trophy in Zhuhai.

Sabalenka has won 34 out of 39 matches so far in the 2023 season. She will reach her second Grand Slam final if she is able to defeat Muchova, who has come out on top in 20 out of 28 fixtures.