Tradition meets reality: Why Aryna Sabalenka and Elina Svitolina didn't have handshake after Australian Open semi-final as fans warned amid backlash

Aryna Sabalenka is into her latest Australian Open final and is on the verge of a hat-trick of titles in Melbourne. But something which is uncharacteristic happened at the end of her match against Elina Svitolina which she won 6-2, 6-3.

There was no handshake between the pair which is uncharacteristic in regards to normal matches but for Ukrainian players facing Russians and Belarusians it is very much a common courtesy albeit fans in Rod Laver Arena took umbrage to it a few nights ago when Mirra Andreeva faced Elina Svitolina.

This is despite the fact that this has been going on now for at least three years with Sabalenka famously waiting at the net during Roland Garros for Svitolina which copped criticism and for most of the first year, those in the stands did not know what was going on with tennis fans in the stands buying tickets often devoid of knowing why.

"My initial reaction, was like, what are you doing? Because, in all my press conferences I made my position clear," said at the time during Roland Garros.

"Maybe she's not on social media during the tournaments, but it is pretty clear. I made multiple statements that I'm not shaking hands, and she played obviously Marta [Kostyuk of Ukraine] as well in the first round. So it's quite simple."

This hasn't happened in a while until this year's Australian Open when Andreeva was booed following her loss against Svitolina so the shoe was on the other foot instead of it being seen like it was Svitolina's fault. Andreeva hastily rushed to the net and shook hands with the umpire seemingly out of respect for Svitolina's wishes.

She was promptly booed and ahead of another match of that type as Svitolina faced Aryna Sabalenka, fans were prewarned about this. A message ran out on the screens saying: "At the conclusion of the match, there will be no handshake between the players. We appreciate your respect for both athletes during and following the match."

It was also read out by an announcer on Rod Laver Arena as they tried to stop potential booing from happening again.

Albeit Sabalenka has previously stated that she does not support war. "I'm not supporting war. I don't want my country to be involved in any conflict," Sabalenka said. "I said it many times, and you know where I stand, you know. You have my position. You have my answer. I answered it many times. I'm not supporting the war.

"And the thing that I don't want sport to be involved in politics, because I'm just a tennis player, 25-years-old tennis player. And if I would like to be political I wouldn't be here. I don't want to be involved in any politics. I just want to be a tennis player."