Australian Open crowd boo as Russian and Ukrainian players refuse to shake hands
The Australian crowd booed after two players refused to shake hands at Melbourne Park.
Elina Svitolina secured her place in the Australian Open quarter-finals on Sunday with a commanding 6-2, 6-4 triumph over Russia’s Mirra Andreeva.
The Ukrainian world number 12 proved too strong for her 18-year-old opponent, who had entered the contest as marginal favourite based on WTA rankings.
This victory represents Svitolina’s fourth quarter-final appearance at Melbourne Park, where she has now accumulated a remarkable 33-12 career record.
Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina and her Russian opponent Mirra Andreeva refused to acknowledge one another after the match
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REUTERS
Andreeva, widely tipped as a potential challenger to Coco Gauff in the last eight, found herself outclassed as Svitolina demonstrated her considerable Grand Slam pedigree throughout the encounter.
The match concluded amid controversy when Andreeva departed the court without approaching the net to acknowledge her opponent.
Visibly frustrated in the closing stages, the Russian teenager fired a return into the net at 4-5 in the second set before slamming her racket against the court surface.
Rather than following the customary post-match protocol, she walked directly to the chair umpire and headed straight for the tunnel.
The Melbourne crowd responded with audible disapproval, booing the young player as she exited Rod Laver Arena.
Mirra Andreeva has been booed throughout the tournament
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REUTERS
Despite Svitolina’s significant achievement, it was Andreeva’s dramatic departure that dominated the post-match discussion.
The absence of a handshake reflects a broader practice adopted by Ukrainian players since Russia’s invasion of their homeland nearly four years ago.
Svitolina has emerged as a leading voice for Ukrainian athletes during the conflict, speaking openly about the difficulties her compatriots face on tour whilst their country remains at war.
An unwritten rule has developed within the tennis community, with Ukrainian competitors declining to shake hands with Russian opponents following matches.
This convention extends even to those who have defected from Russia to represent other nations, such as Varvara Gracheva, who now competes under the French flag yet still does not engage in post-match handshakes with Ukrainian players.
Elina Svitolina has emerged as a leading voice for Ukrainian athletes
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REUTERS
Several Russian players have opted to change their national allegiance since the outbreak of hostilities, with Daria Kasatkina now representing Australia and Anastasia Potapova competing for Austria.
Andreeva, however, has indicated she has no intention of following suit. “A lot of players changed. But for now, I’m just going to play like this. I didn’t have any offers or anything. So for now, it’s just going to be like this,” she stated.
Russian competitors have been required to play under a neutral flag due to the conflict, though Andreeva insisted this arrangement places no additional burden on her.
“No, for me, it doesn’t add any pressure,” she explained.
“I’m just doing my thing on the court. I focus on how to get better, how to improve as a tennis player, so it doesn’t add any pressure.”
