Then she realized that while she is aware Kostyuk and other Ukrainian tennis players have been declining to greet foes from Russia or Belarus after a match, the spectators might not have known - and so responded in a way Sabalenka didn't think was deserved. She looked up at her entourage in the stands, too. ![]() Sabalenka tried to ask the chair umpire what was going on. "I was a little confused, and I was, like, 'OK, what should I do?'" "At first, I thought they were booing me," Sabalenka said. Initially, Sabalenka - who had approached the net as if anticipating some sort of exchange with Kostyuk - thought all of that noise was directed at her. Perhaps the fans on hand at the clay-court event's main stadium were unaware of the backstory and figured Kostyuk simply failed to follow usual tennis etiquette. Kostyuk is based now in Monaco, and her mother and sister are there, too, but her father and grandfather are still in Kyiv. People should be, honestly, embarrassed." "I have to say," Kostyuk said, "I didn't expect it. The negative response grew louder as she gathered her belongings and walked off the court toward the locker room. What surprised the 20-year-old, 39th-ranked Kostyuk on Sunday was the reaction she received from the spectators in Court Philippe Chatrier: They loudly booed and derisively whistled at her as she walked directly over to acknowledge the chair umpire instead of congratulating the winner after the lopsided result. And that is why she avoided a handshake - avoided any eye contact, even - after losing to Australian Open champion Sabalenka 6-3, 6-2 on Day 1 at Roland Garros. That, then, is why Kostyuk has decided she will not exchange the usual postmatch pleasantries with opponents from Russia or Belarus. I think I'm better than before, and I don't think it affects me as much on a daily basis, but yeah, it's just - I don't know," Kostyuk said, shaking her head. I try to put my emotions aside any time I go out on court. "It's something I cannot describe, probably. ![]() Sunday and saw disturbing news back home in Kyiv.Īt least one person was killed when Kyiv was subjected to the largest drone attack by Russia since the start of its war, launched with an invasion assisted by Belarus in February 2022. 2 seed, Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine, checked her phone at 5 a.m. PARIS - Unable to sleep the night before her first-round match at the French Open against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, the Grand Slam tournament's No. Marta Kostyuk booed for not shaking Aryna Sabalenka's hand at French Open A victory that was also celebrated by her countrywoman, Elina Svitolina, who posted the triumph of her colleague on her Instagram stories.You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browser I want to dedicate this title to Ukraine… of course it is a very special moment,” she said during the award speech, as reported by the WTA website. It's extremely special to win this title. ![]() ![]() The victory of her first career title could not but be dedicated to her country, Ukraine: "Everyone who is in the stands, everyone who is watching in Ukraine, being in the position I am in now. Did it make me feel bad? Let's just say it's not the most important thing right now." She dedicates it to Ukraine You have to go on, I can't force anyone to shake my hand, it's their decision. A gesture that didn't upset the Grand Slam champion in that case: “She didn't surprise me, to tell the truth, even if I don't think it's important, there's no need to make a drama out of it. The same scenario was seen in the second round of the US Open, defeated by the Belarusian Viktoria Azarenka. It is not the first episode of its kind involving the Ukrainian tennis player.
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