(Paris) Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk refused Sunday to shake hands with Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka after her 6-3, 6-2 defeat in the first round of Roland-Garros on Sunday.
Originally from Kyiv, Kostyuk considers the tennis authorities too accommodating with Russian and Belarusian players in the measures taken in response to the invasion of his country by troops from Moscow in February 2022.
She had already chosen not to greet another Belarusian, Victoria Azarenka, preferring to touch her opponent’s racket with hers during the last United States Open.
She decided not to greet Sabalenka at all this time, drawing boos from the audience at the time, then walking off the court. The Belarusian then thought at first that she was the target of the public, performing an ironic bow in front of the stands.
“Excuse me, I thought at first that the boos were for me,” she then explained during the interview after the match, on the court. “I was a little surprised, but then I felt your support. So thank you very much, it’s very important. It was a very tough game on an emotional level”.
“It doesn’t matter if she hates me,” Sabalenka, world No.2, who was asked about it, said before the meeting. “Regarding the absence of a handshake, I can understand it,” she added.
Among the favorites of the tournament, Sabalenka dominated this meeting which exceeded the stakes of tennis.
First jostled by the 20-year-old Ukrainian, the Belarusian, winner of the Australian Open earlier this year, broke free after being broken (3-2), winning the next three games to complete the first sleeve.
More offensive than her opponent, the 25-year-old took the advantage in this match thanks to the power that characterizes her.
Cornered when serving, Kostyuk, 39e world, conceded two breaks in the second set as Sabalenka was solid, erasing two break points to finally end the second set 6-2, and the match in 1:11.
The Belarusian has never passed the third round of Roland-Garros in five appearances in the main draw.