French Open 2023: Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk received jeers as she refused to shake hands with Aryna Sabalenka
Posted : 28 May 2023
Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine remarked, "People should be embarrassed," after being booed off the court after losing to Aryna Sabalenka in the French Open's first round.
After Sabalenka's 6-3, 6-2 victory, Kostyuk declined to shake hands with the second-seeded Belarussian.
Belarus, a Russian ally, permitted forces to commence the invasion of Ukraine last year from its soil.
Kostyuk "didn't deserve to leave the court that way," according to Sabalenka.
Following the coin toss, the duo did not have the customary pre-match photograph. The fans on Court Philippe-Chatrier booed Kostyuk as she proceeded to shake the umpire's hand and then go to her chair after Australian Open winner Sabalenka secured victory.
"People should be honestly embarrassed," said world number 39 Kostyuk.
"I want to see people react to it in 10 years when the war is over. I think they will not feel really nice about what they did."
The initial booing stunned Sabalenka, who assumed it was meant at her. She later realised it was Kostyuk, when the audience booed once again as she exited the court.
"It was a very tough match, tough emotionally," said Sabalenka in her on-court interview.
"I thought the boos were against me so I felt a bit surprised. But then I felt your support."
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