Sabalenka Respects Svitolina’s Decision Not to Shake Hands

Aryna Sabalenka, the top-ranked female tennis player, expressed her understanding of her opponent Elina Svitolina’s choice not to shake hands following their semi-final match at the Australian Open. Sabalenka noted that this has been a common practice among many Ukrainian players for some time now.

Sabalenka, although Belarusian, has competed under a neutral flag since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In the match, she triumphed over Svitolina with a score of 6-2, 6-3.

Before their match concluded, the Australian Open organizers displayed a message on the big screen informing attendees that no handshakes would occur after the match. It read, “There will be no handshakes between the players after the match. Thank you for being respectful to both players during and after the match.”

After securing her victory, Sabalenka was asked about Svitolina’s decision. She responded, “I’m not focused on that, and they have been for a long time. It’s their decision, and I respect that. Now I have time to respect her and her.”

She continued, mentioning the mutual respect between them: “I think she knows that I respect her as a player, and she knows that she respects me as a player. That’s all I care about.”

Svitolina, on her part, praised Sabalenka’s performance, although she wasn’t directly questioned about the handshake situation. She shared her optimism despite the disappointment of losing, emphasizing the ongoing struggles faced in her home country.

Reflecting on her situation, Svitolina mentioned, “I don’t really feel like I should be sad. I’m in a great position… I have been given a great opportunity to be here at Center Court, to represent my country, to play in a proper way, to use my voice, to be there for my people.”

Svitolina acknowledged the harsh realities faced by many in Ukraine yet remained thankful for the chance to connect with others through her sport: “When I wake up in the morning, of course, I see terrible news. But there are people watching my games… so I really shouldn’t be allowed to be sad because I’m a very, very lucky person.”

With this victory, Sabalenka is set to face Elena Rybakina in a much-anticipated rematch from the 2023 final. This also marks a significant milestone for her, as she becomes the third woman in the Open era to reach four consecutive Australian Open singles finals.