(VIDEO) Mirra Andreeva booed due to no handshake with Elina Svitolina as Australian Open fans don't understand unwritten rule

WTA
Monday, 26 January 2026 at 00:00
Mirra Andreeva hits a backhand.
Mirra Andreeva was defeated on Sunday at the Australian Open with Elina Svitolina once again performing in a Grand Slam in a dominant 6-2, 6-4 win over the 18-year-old, who perhaps was the favourite to set up a meeting with Coco Gauff in the Quarter-Finals.
But also, it was a post-match that also caused controversy, as Australian Open fans didn't seem to understand an 'unwritten rule' that Ukrainians do not shake hands with Russian players due to the ongoing war between the two countries.
That has also gone even for those who have since defected from Russia, including Varvara Gracheva, for instance, who now represents France but still does not get a handshake with Svitolina, Kostyuk, and Tsurenko among the leading players who do not partake.
Svitolina, in particular, has been a trailblazer in many ways for Ukraine's plight, speaking up since the war began about what it is like to be a Ukrainian on tour during this time and also the struggles back at home.
Andreeva, though seemingly unlike Sabalenka, for instance, in the past, and Azarenka didn't seem to want to entertain it, even and hastily walked up to the chair umpire instead of to the net to shake hands with the umpire to respect the wishes of Svitolina.
This, though, did not go down well with fans who booed Andreeva as she walked away, seeming still, even though it has been going on for over three years, not understanding why they didn't shake hands.
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