By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Monday, July 31, 2023
Clarity is coming before Victoria Azarenka and Elina Svitolina square off at the Mubadala Citi DC Open tonight.
Earlier this month, Belarusian Azarenka was booed off No. 1 Court at Wimbledon after a high-quality clash vs. Ukrainian Svitolina.
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Svitolina scored a 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(9) triumph over Azarenka at Wimbledon in a superb showdown. The booing began because there was no handshake between the pair after the match.
Ukrainian players do not participate in the post-match handshake with Russian and Belarusian players because of Russia's unprovoked invasion of neighboring Ukraine that began in February, 2022.
Since then, Ukrainians have not shaken hands with Russian or Belarusian opponents. Though it's been an ongoing practice for nearly a year-and-a-half some fans apparently are still unaware of the issue.
To that end, Svitolina said WTA CEO Steve Simon assured her there will be a "no handshake" announcement before the two women meet again tonight in DC to clarify the situation for fans.
"After our match at Wimbledon, WTA, as you know, came out with the statement that there would be no handshakes between Ukrainian, Russian, Belarusian players," Svitolina told the media in Washington, DC. "Also yesterday I had a chat with Steve Simon and he told me that they will announce before our match that there will be no handshake. So I'm happy with that."
Following fan reaction at Wimbledon, both Azarenka and Svitolina, who were once doubles partners, called on tennis' governing bodies to provide clarity for fans so they understand why there is no handshake.
“For me personally, I think the tennis organizations, they have to come out with a statement that there will be no handshake between Russian, Belarusian, and Ukrainian players," Svitolina said at Wimbledon. "I don't know if it's maybe not clear for people.
"Some people not really know what is happening. So I think this is the right way to do.”
At Wimbledon, Azarenka also took issue with a few journalists, whom she suggested were magnifying the issue and fanning the flames of controversy in the process.
“I know Elina for a very long time, I've always had a good relationship with her," Azarenka said. "And the circumstances, it is what it is, and that's it. I don't think that talking about every little gesture makes any difference or is a big story. I'm not saying you particularly, but a lot of people keep talking about it like it's changing somebody's lives, which it's not.
“So the bigger you guys are making it, the longer it's going to be a conversation. So in my opinion it's not a conversation that has any substance, any change, any effect, or really anything.”
Ahead of tonight's showdown, Azarenka said she expects tennis to be the focus.
"Definitely feels like she's playing free. You know, she's just coming back," Azarenka said of Svitolina. "So there is nothing to defend, only things to gain. In one way, I would say it's an advantage, but it depends how you look at it.
"I feel that it is definitely helping her to play more freely. She's been playing well. Definitely the results are there. I'm looking forward to, you know, to a challenge, for sure. Yeah, it's going to be a different match, different surface, different city. Quite a few things different. Yeah, it's going to be a battle. It always is."
Photo credit: Robert Prange/Getty