"I didn’t expect this reaction, that wasn't nice": Yastremska shocked after reaction to Kostyuk handshake snub against Sabalenka

Dayana Yastremska was surprised by the reaction of tennis fans towards Marta Kostyuk after she didn't shake hands with Aryna Sabalenka at Roland Garros.

The Ukrainian player bowed out of the event like Kostyuk in the first round however her loss didn't come against a Russian or Belarusian. She played Donna Vekic who proved better in two sets. As expected, reporters wanted to hear her opinion on French tennis fans booing Kostyuk after she didn't shake hands with Aryna Sabalenka and she stood by what her compatriot did.

Yastremska backs Kostyuk

Kostyuk was booed twice with the first one happening after she didn't shake hands and the second one coming when she was leaving the court. According to Yastremska, that wasn't very nice:

"Since the war started, everybody said that we (Ukrainians) are not going to shake hands with Russians and Belarusian players. There’s nothing surprising. I didn’t expect this reaction (to Kostyuk). That wasn’t nice. I’m supporting this because I played against the Russians, and I also didn’t shake their hands. That’s our position, and everybody knows about this, so there is nothing wrong about it."

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Yastremska Talks Not Shaking hands

She expanded on the decision by Ukranians to not shake hands with Russian and Belarusian players:

“What is the difference? If we play against Russian and Belarusian, it doesn’t matter which tournament, we’re not going to shake their hands. We (tennis players from Ukraine) have already said our position. We don’t feel really good. How we can go on court and play against people from a terroristic country like Russia? It’s difficult Emotionally.’ It’s better to ask them (Russian or Belarussian players) how they feel playing against us. Do they feel good or not? It would be better to ask them those questions."

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