{"id":63491,"date":"2022-09-02T04:34:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-02T04:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/marta-kostyuk-snubs-victoria-azarenka-handshake-after-loss-to-belarusian-us-open-tennis-2022\/"},"modified":"2022-09-02T04:34:00","modified_gmt":"2022-09-02T04:34:00","slug":"marta-kostyuk-snubs-victoria-azarenka-handshake-after-loss-to-belarusian-us-open-tennis-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/marta-kostyuk-snubs-victoria-azarenka-handshake-after-loss-to-belarusian-us-open-tennis-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"Marta Kostyuk snubs Victoria Azarenka handshake after loss to Belarusian | US Open Tennis 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk declined to shake hands with Victoria Azarenka, opting only for a racket tap, after she was defeated 6-2, 6-3 by the Belarusian in the second round of the US Open.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was just my choice,\u201d she said. \u201cI don’t know any single person who condemned the war publicly, and the actions of their government, so I don’t feel like I can support this. We had a great match, don’t get me wrong. She’s a great competitor, I respect her as an athlete but that has nothing to do with her as a human being. \u201d<\/p>\n

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The match marked the first time that the two players have faced off since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has been supported by Belarus. Kostyuk texted Azarenka before they played as she wanted to warn her but they were unable to speak in person.<\/p>\n

Kostyuk has been one of the most vocal Ukrainian players since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine and she has been particularly critical of her colleagues, who she believes have not sufficiently spoken up against the war. In March, Azarenka released a statement on social media wishing for an end to war but she and most other Russian and Belarusian players have not publicly criticised the actions of their authorities.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith some of them, I had personal relationships and they didn’t come up to me and some of them have such big fanbases, they have people supporting and looking out for them from all over the world,\u201d said Kostyuk.<\/p>\n

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<\/svg><\/span>Marta Kostyuk has been one of the most vocal Ukrainian players since Russia began its invasion.<\/span> Photograph: Sarah Stier\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

She continued: \u201cAnd in such an important topic, that is not political, that is a very important topic that’s happening in the world, having the fanbase that they have, and don’t use it in the right way, and to spread the good message: that they don’t support the murders, the rapes, the genocide that is happening.\u201d<\/p>\n

Azarenka, a former No 1 and two-time grand slam champion, is the most prominent active women’s tennis player from either Belarus or Russia, and one of the biggest athletes in her country. While Kostyuk believes Azarenka’s position on the WTA player council should come with greater responsibility, Azarenka says she has taken action behind the scenes. \u201cI feel like I’ve had a very clear message from the beginning, that I’m here to try to help, which I have done a lot. Maybe [it\u2019s] not something that people see,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

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