Azarenka respects no handshake from Ukrainian players but 'so tired' of discussion surrounding it: "It is not a standard practice in sports"
WTATuesday, 08 August 2023 at 09:30
Former world number one Belarus’ Victoria Azarenka has
stated that she ‘respects’ the decision of no handshake from Ukrainian players.
The 34-year-old has been in the news since her Wimbledon
2023 clash with Elina Svitolina where she was booed by the crowd for not having
a handshake after the match.
It was later revealed by her opponent Svitolina that it was
her decision to not have a handshake with any Russian or Belarusian tennis
player unless every Russian soldier leaves the soil of Ukraine.
Talking about it, Azarenka stated that she respects
everyone’s decision but also admitted that it is not a common practice in
sports.
"So tired of talking about this. So I would hope that
finally maybe the statement will be stop talking about this," she said. "I
feel like the very clear message is a personal choice of Ukrainian athletes to
do that. That's not the standard practice. That's not something I would be
doing, but I'm not in a position to judge."
"I respect somebody's decision, but it is not -- yeah,
I don't think it's a standard practice in sports. And as I said I don't know
how many times now, I will respect and accept the choice of the other player.”
Tensions are high in Europe after Russia’s invasion of
Ukraine back in February 2022. Since then, thousands have lost their lives on
both sides, including a lot of civilians.
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.
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