Ukrainian Elina Svitolina had no sympathy for Victoria Azarenka after the 33-year-old was booed off Court One on Sunday night following their epic fourth-round match. The match betwen Svitolina and Azarenka was the first time a Ukraine tennis player was facing someone from either Russia or Belarus.
Svitolina has been one of the most outspoken players on tour about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and she’s regularly refused to shake hands with Belarus or Russian players. The 28-year-old was roundly booed at the French Open after incidences with Anna Blinkova, Daria Kasatkina and Aryna Sabalenka.
And Svitolina reiterated her intentions not to shake hands with Azarenka before their fourth-round match on Sunday. That was before both players embarked on a near-three-hour epic on Court One as Svitolina reached the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam less than a year after giving birth to her first child.
The crowd inside Court One erupted into cheer as Svitolina won the match with an ace with the players not embracing at the net, although Azarenka did raise her hand in a gesture of congratulations. Then there was seemingly some confusion from a section of the crowd over what didn’t happen at the net as Azarenka was roundly booed, who looked shocked and disappointed at the jeers.
An understandably frustrated Azarenka admitted in her post-match press conference that she felt not many people understood what had actually happened. But Svitolina refused to offer her condolences for the way the Belarusian was treated on court.
When asked to give her view on Azarenka being booed by the Wimbledon crowd, Svitolina said: “Well, I got the same. I got the same in Paris. I played three matches in Paris in this way. Today, as well.
“For me personally, I think the tennis organisations, they have to come out with a statement that there will be no handshake between Russian, Belarusian, and Ukrainian players. 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.”
But when asked directly whether she felt bad for her opponent, Svitolina responded: “Well, it was like this in Paris. It also was unfair for me in Paris quarterfinal.”
Svitolina was a set and a break down and staring down the barrel of her Wimbledon exit before embarking on an incredible turnaround. A deciding tiebreak was needed with the spectators on the edge of their seat for the gripping contest before Svitolina grabbed the win with her eighth ace of the match before collapsing to the floor.
Iga Swiatek is up next for the Ukraining so she’ll have to try and recover in time to face the No 1 seed.
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