The gesture was expected and Marta Kostyuk did not disassemble. After her defeat against Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, the Ukrainian refused on Sunday 28 May to shake hands with her opponent.

Originally from Kiev, Kostyuk considers the tennis authorities too accommodating to Russian and Belarusian players in the measures taken in response to the invasion of his country by Moscow troops in February 2022. She is one of the most vocal voices on the circuit on this subject.

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At the last US Open, she had already chosen not to greet another Belarusian, Victoria Azarenka, preferring to touch her opponent's racket with her own.

In January, she denounced the presence of Russian flags in the spans of the Australian Open. In early March, she dedicated her first title, the WTA 250 in Austin, to her country "and to all the people who are fighting and dying right now." A gesture all the stronger as she had conquered it against the Russian Varvara Gracheva (6-3, 7-5).

Boos in return

For the first round of Roland-Garros, she decided this time not to greet Sabalenka at all, drawing boos from the public at that moment, then leaving the court. The Belarusian, world number 2, then thought at first that she was the target of the public, making an ironic bow in front of the stands.

"Excuse me, I thought at first the bronca was for me," she said in the post-match interview on court. "I was a little surprised, but afterwards I felt your support. So thank you very much, it's very important. It was a very tough match emotionally."

Beaten by the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka in #RolandGarros, the Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk did not shake hands with her opponent: it did not please the public of Philippe-Chatrier, who booed the 39th world #HomeOfTennis pic.twitter.com/AjjMAYQnZA

— Eurosport France (@Eurosport_FR) May 28, 2023

"It doesn't matter if she hates me," Sabalenka said before the meeting, when asked about it.

"If we could stop [the war], we would. Unfortunately, it is not in our hands. [...] I understand why they do not want to shake our hands. If they shake our hands, what will happen to them on the Ukrainian side? I understand that. And I know it's not personal. And she doesn't deserve to leave the court like that [with whistles]," the Belarusian tried to explain after the match.

The Ukrainian replied a few minutes later, visibly unconvinced: "I said I wouldn't do it (shake his hand), and I don't know why people thought I would change my mind. [...] I think journalists should ask these players, "Who do you want to see win the war?" If you ask that question, I'm not sure they answer: 'Ukraine,'" the Kiev native said after the match. "Blaming yourself, I can't respect that. She says I hate her. I never said that. Just, I don't respect it. And I don't understand the fact that it is said that she is in a 'difficult position'."

A non-match

Among the favorites of the tournament, Sabalenka dominated this meeting that went beyond the stakes of tennis.

First jostled by the 20-year-old Ukrainian, the Belarusian, winner of the Australian Open at the beginning of the year, broke free after being broken (3-2), winning the next three games to close the first set.

More offensive than her opponent, the 25-year-old took the lead in this match thanks to the power that characterizes her.

Cornered when she served, Kostyuk, ranked 39th in the world, conceded two breaks in the second set, while Sabalenka was solid, erasing two break balls to finally close the second set 6-2, and the match in 1:11.

The Belarusian has never before made it past the third round of Roland Garros in five appearances in the main draw.

With AFP

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