"Putting this out a month late is like peeing into the wind" - Fans react to WTA finally clarifying no handshake stance between Russians & Ukrainians

Several tennis fans reacted to the recent clarification made by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) regarding the no-handshake policy between Russian and Ukrainian players.

Since the onset of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, Ukrainian players have consistently expressed their unease when competing against players from Russia and Belarus. They have been vocal about this issue and have firmly declined to shake hands with Russian and Belarusian counterparts.

In the fourth round of the women's singles match, Belarus' Victoria Azarenka and Ukraine's Elina Svitolina did not shake hands after the conclusion of their match. In a display of respect for Svitolina's decision, Azarenka raised her hand towards the Ukrainian before proceeding to shake hands with the chair umpire.

Unfortunately, the spectators at the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club were far from pleased with Azarenka's actions. Their discontent was palpable as they expressed their dissatisfaction by booing her as she exited the court.

In light of this event, the WTA has issued a statement expressing their respect for the Ukrainian athletes who have chosen not to partake in the customary practice of shaking hands with opponents from Russia and Belarus at the conclusion of a match.

The WTA acknowledged that the decision is a deeply personal one and fully supports the athletes in their choice.

Several tennis fans took to social media and reacted to the statement issued by the WTA regarding the post-match no handshake protocol. One fan expressed their dissatisfaction on social media, arguing that releasing the statement on social platforms was insufficient.

They emphasized that while avid tennis followers on Twitter may already be aware of the situation, it is the casual fans who purchase tickets and attend tournaments that remain uninformed. This lack of awareness could potentially cause chaos during the tournaments.

"Putting this out on social media, a month late, is just like peeing into the wind. People who follow tennis on Twitter already know. It's the casuals who buy tix and go to the tournaments who will continue to have no idea," a fan tweeted.

Another fan expressed disappointment, noting that the fans who booed Victoria Azarenka are unlikely to read this statement as they may not follow tennis closely. They proposed that an announcement be made on the court before the match, which could prove more effective in addressing the issue.

"Unfortunately none of the fans that booed Azarenka will see this coz they probably don't follow tennis. An announcement before the match on court would be more helpful," the fan tweeted.

Here are a few more reactions:

"Until Russian troops are out of Ukraine and we take back our territories, not going to shake hands" - Elina Svitolina

Elina Svitolina has justified her choice to refrain from shaking hands with Russian and Belarusian players on the WTA tour.

The significance of the handshake was once again brought to attention on Sunday as she faced Belarus' Victoria Azarenka at the 2023 Wimbledon Championships.

After the match concluded both players refrained from shaking hands. When questioned about this during the post-match press conference, the Ukrainian player reiterated the reason behind her decision.

"I already said multiple times that until Russian troops are out of Ukraine and we take back our territories, not going to shake hands. So I have clear statement. I don't know how more clear I can be," she stated.

Last year both Russian and Belarusian players faced a ban from participating in Wimbledon. However, this decision has been overturned in the current year. Svitolina still holds a contrasting opinion and expresses her dissatisfaction with this reversal.

"Last year it was clear message from Wimbledon. This year it was changed because of different kind of pressure. Yeah, I already answered this question I think first day of the media that, yeah, I don't really support the change," she added.

About the author

Since joining Sportskeeda as a journalist in January 2023, Sreeja has remained steadfast in delivering thorough coverage of the tennis world. Her bachelor's degree in English has proven invaluable, with over 1000 articles already under her belt for the company.

While writing, Sreeja prioritizes reliability by sourcing information from credible outlets and presenting various perspectives to her readers. She regularly keeps track of updates by closely monitoring the official websites of WTA and ATP, as well as the social media profiles of prominent journalists.

Sreeja draws inspiration from Rafael Nadal's unparalleled dominance on clay courts and Steffi Graf's remarkable career trajectory, while also holding Novak Djokovic in high esteem. Her passion for tennis reaches its peak during the Australian Open and the French Open, particularly relishing the clay court matches.

When she is not collecting information about tennis, she fills her time with reading and playing darts while also keeping her finger on the pulse of pop culture.

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Edited by Samya Majumdar