A brutal war of aggression divided players on the court메이저사이트.
Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine at the 2023 French Open (Roland Garros). She was booed by the crowd after her match when she refused to shake hands with pro-Russian Belarusian Arina Savalenka.
Women’s singles first round at Roland Garros in Paris on Monday (Aug. 28). World No. 2 Sabalenka, 25, got off to a flying start, beating 39th-ranked Kostyuk, 21, 2-0 (6-3, 6-2) in one hour and 11 minutes.
Arina Savelenka of Belarus. She is in action in Rome recently. AP Yonhap
But after the coin toss to determine court position prior to the match, Kostyuk rejected the tradition of the two players posing for a photo together. He also refused to shake hands with Sabalenka after the loss, walking straight to the umpire to shake hands before returning to his seat. The crowd on Philippe Chatrier Court then booed Kostyuk.
Marta Kostyuk cries after losing the match. Paris|AFP
Savalenka’s Belarus is an ally of Russia, which allowed Russian troops to use their territory when it armedly invaded Ukraine last year.
“I was a bit surprised because I thought the boos were for me, but then I felt the crowd was supporting me,” Savalenka said after the match, according to BBC Sport.
“It was a very tough match emotionally,” he added. Sabalenka, who had previously said that “no one supports war,” said before the match that he understood if Kosturk hated him.
Kostyuk also refused to shake hands with Belarusian Victoria Azarenka at last year’s US Open.