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Tennis fans in the stands at the French Open booed Ukrainian player Marta Kostyuk after she declined to shake hands with Belarusian player Aryna Sabalenka after their match.
Kostyuk saw during her sleepless pre-match jitters that Russia—with Belarusian backing—launched the largest drone attack on Kyiv since the invasion began in February 2022.
Kostyuk is very affected by the war back home in Ukraine, where much of her family still lives in Kyiv.
“It’s something I cannot describe, probably. I try to put my emotions aside any time I go out on court."
"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..."
"There is not much to say, really. It’s just part of my life.”
After her match with Sabalenka, Kostyuk chose not to engage in the customary hand shake after the match with the Belarusian player, following the actions taken by many Ukrainian athletes with matches or contests against Belarusian players.
However, Kostyuk was booed by the crowd for actions.
\u201cSabalenka defeated Kostyuk in the French Open today but she was again denied a handshake by her opponent.\n\nThe pair had played previously and the Ukrainian had refused to shake hands with the Belarusian, due to Belarus\u2019 support of Russia's war in Ukraine.\u201d— Eurosport (@Eurosport) 1685276610
Reactions online were divided.
First were those who supported Kostyuk's choice to decline the handshake at the end of the match.
\u201c@eurosport I don\u2019t blame her. She stood her ground. Best of luck to you, Kostyuk.\u201d— Eurosport (@Eurosport) 1685276610
\u201c@eurosport Good for Kostyuk #IStandWithUkraine\u201d— Eurosport (@Eurosport) 1685276610
\u201c@eurosport Kostyuk has no reason to shake the hand of a Russian or Belarusian player.\u201d— Eurosport (@Eurosport) 1685276610
Others—like many in the crowd—labeled Kostyuk's actions as "unsportmanlike."
\u201c@eurosport Absolutely unsportsmanlike for @marta_kostyuk to not shake hands. @SabalenkaA has been consistent with her stance against the war.\u201d— Eurosport (@Eurosport) 1685276610
\u201c@eurosport Poor sportsmanship. Kostyuk should be sanctioned.\u201d— Eurosport (@Eurosport) 1685276610
\u201c@eurosport I will never understand the hate this girl has for Russian and Belarusian tennis players... Well done Aryna!\u201d— Eurosport (@Eurosport) 1685276610
Others used this as a chance to ask bigger questions about the nature of athletes representing the countries they come from.
\u201c@eurosport What does the player have to do with the government?\u201d— Eurosport (@Eurosport) 1685276610
This won't be the last time this happens, another person observed.
\u201c@eurosport If Russia does not withdraw, all of them will become pariahs.\u201d— Eurosport (@Eurosport) 1685276610
Another person asked why a Belarusian player was even at the match, if there are international sanctions against Belarus and Russia.
\u201c@eurosport I think the public was booing Sabalenka who got it and then, she did this defiant salute. Why are Russians/ Belarusians invited ? Aren't those countries under sanctions ? \u00a0\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83d\udcaa\u201d— Eurosport (@Eurosport) 1685276610
Kostyuk lost the match, so Sabalenka proceeded to the next round in the French Open.