Why there will be a handshake between Ukrainian Svitolina and Russian-born Rybakina at the Rome Open Quarter-Final

Elina Svitolina has made a thing in the past of not shaking Russian or Belarusian players hands at the net after matches amid the ongoing conflict in her home country of Ukraine. This, however, does not stretch to Elena Rybakina who is off the hook despite having used to represent Russia.

The duo are set to come to blows in the quarter-finals of the Rome Open. Both former champion, they love the clay courts of Foro Italico and will feel like they both have reasonable chances of lifting another title and gaining more valuable momentum and confidence heading to Roland Garros.

Svitolina won the titles on 2017 and 2018, showing her longevity in the sport that almost a decade later she is still up there with the best. Nevertheless, things have changed from almost 10 years ago.

The Russian-Ukraine war has seen many Ukrainians regularly speak up against Russian and Belarusian tennis players, attempting to get their voice heard with an ambition for the conflict to stop. The most common theme is that handshakes between representatives of the two countries are very rare. The likes of Aryna Sabalenka, Mirra Andreeva, Diana Shnaider and more know when they are playing someone from the Ukraine, there is no point going to the net right after the finish to the match.

While this is strictly kept up, Rybakina is not one player that Svitolina is looking to avoid.

Ranked world number two, the reigning Australian Open champion was born in Moscow where she was raised and took her first steps into the world of tennis. However, when she was 19 Rybakina opted to switch nationalities to Kazakhstan due to the financial support the country's tennis federation they offered.

In last year's edition of Roland Garros, Rybakina and Svitolina were very close to facing off in the quarter-finals, a repeat of their clash in 2024. During a press conference, the four-time Grand Slam semi-finalist explained the reasoning behind why she would be happy to shake Rybakina's hands despite the prior links to Russia. She used Daria Kasatkina as another example, now representing Australia after switching at the start of 2025.

"She changed her nationality years ago, well before the war and the invasion even began," Svitolina said at the time. "Rybakina now represents Kazakhstan. For me, Daria Kasatkina is an excellent example: she changed her nationality (she is now Australian) and openly opposed the war. So, of course, we (Ukrainians) will shake her hand now because she supports Ukraine, and we respect those who do. She not only changed her nationality, but she also spoke out in support of Ukraine."

This matchup never occurred with four-time champion Iga Swiatek dumping her out in the fourth round before repeating the fate to Svitolina in the quarter-finals.

They have already faced off this year. Rybakina would come out in top in a very tight match in the semi-finals of Indian Wells, booking her spot in the final against world number one Sabalenka. The head-to-head favours Rybakina, but only just. That recent meeting tipped her ahead 4-3 just before their clash in Rome. It will follow the first quarter-final showdown between Jessica Pegula and Swiatek, with the winner awaiting one of Rybakina or Svitolina.