Elina Svitolina will stick with her no-handshake policy when facing Victoria Azarenka
Don’t expect any pre-match or post-match handshakes when Elina Svitolina and Victoria Azarenka square off in the fourth round at Wimbledon on Sunday.
Former world No 3 Svitolina has been one of the most outspoken players in her criticism of Russia’s invasion of her home country Ukraine and, along with several of her compatriots, adopted a policy of not shaking hands with rival tennis players from Russia and Belarus, who has provided support to Moscow.
“I have played a couple of players from Belarus and Russia in Strasbourg and Paris as well so nothing new for me. It’s just a big motivation for me to go out there and try even more to win, try to win for my country,” she told the BBC ahead of her clash against Belarusian Azarenka.
Following her match against Daria Kasatkina at Roland Garros in June, Svitolina was booed by the Parisian crowd for not shaking hands with her opponent although the two shared an exchange after the match as Russian-born Kasatkina – who is also a big critic of her home country’s invasion – made it clear that she held no hard feelings.
However, there was also controversy after Svitolina’s French Open clash against Aryna Sabalenka as the world No 2 walked to the net to wait for a handshake, but it was not forthcoming and the Ukrainian felt her opponent should have known better.
“She was waiting, because my statements were clear enough about the handshake,” she said after the encounter.
The 28-year-old Odesa-born player made it clear she will not shake hands with Azarenka and hopes the Wimbledon crowds will treat her better.
“There were lots of misunderstandings in Paris because in Strasbourg everyone understood my position,” Svitolina said.
“Hopefully [there] will be the same understanding from the British crowd and my position is the same, I am not shaking hands with the Russian and Belarusian players and hopefully this will be nothing new for them.”
Away from the off-court drama and to the actual match against Azarenka, the Ukrainian is expecting a tough encounter.
“It’s a big challenge, for sure. For me, it’s a big motivation. Firstly I think for my country, as well. Yeah, looking forward to this challenge,” she said.
“It’s another match, but in a way, a lot of Ukrainians will be watching, will be supporting me. I will go out there and put the fighting spirit on and just really fight for every single point.”
