NEW DELHI: With the Australian Open unfolding in Melbourne, the absence of handshakes between Ukrainian tennis players and their Russian or Belarusian counterparts continues to be a poignant statement echoing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Lesia Tsurenko, after her match with Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, emphasized the significance of this gesture, stating, “This is another reminder about the fact that there is a war in my country.I do this for Ukraine. And I think this is the right thing.”The refusal to shake hands was evident not only in Tsurenko’s match but also in the encounter between Marta Kostyuk and Elina Avanesyan. While there was no handshake, both Ukrainian players acknowledged their opponents.
Dayana Yastremska expressed concern that, two years after the invasion, Ukraine is slipping down the news agenda, and players fear their cause is being forgotten. She lamented the growing desensitization to the ongoing war, stating, “The worst thing is that you get too used to it. And this is very bad. Because most of the people are forgetting what is going on there.”
Marta Kostyuk echoed Yastremska’s sentiments, calling on journalists to keep the news alive. She emphasized the continuous impact of the war, stating, “The war is still there. People are still dying every day. I still don’t understand what all these (Russian and Belarusian) players are doing here.”
When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Wimbledon initially banned Russian and Belarusian players, with various fundraising events held globally. However, the ATP and WTA Tours allowed individuals from these countries to compete, albeit not under their national flags. Wimbledon lifted its ban in 2023, succumbing to pressure against Britain’s grass-court events.
Since the war began, Ukrainian players have refrained from shaking hands with Russians and Belarusians, occasionally causing confusion among crowds. At Wimbledon in 2023, Belarusian player Victoria Azarenka faced boos after losing to Elina Svitolina. While Wimbledon rejected the idea of informing crowds about the situation, the U.S. Open adopted the approach, displaying a message on big screens.
Despite concerns about being perceived as “annoying” for sharing information about the war, Lesia Tsurenko stressed the importance of raising awareness. She acknowledged the challenges, saying, “Seems like everyone, the whole world is kind of tired of hearing that. But unfortunately, it’s still going on. It’s part of my life and part of the Ukrainians’ life.”
Dayana Yastremska shared a personal connection to the war, revealing that her grandmother narrowly escaped a bomb that hit her building earlier this month. Expressing frustration, Yastremska mentioned that while people are supportive, more substantial actions are needed, saying, “People are supporting, yes. But when I mentioned like, WTA, or someone, they just tell me, do you need a psychologist? Thank you. Not gonna help.”
(Inputs from agencies)