Arina Sabalenka opened the tournament with a clear win at Philippe Chatrier centre. Martha Kostyuck (6-3, 6-2) is an example of the cold war of the period between Ukrainian and Russian and Belarusian tennis players who avoided shaking hands at the beginning and end of the match.
For a little over an hour, Kostyuk played in absolute silence, almost without looking at Sabalenka, as an act of resistance on the ground against the war that has plagued Ukraine since February 24, 2022, making no move except to celebrate one point. Russia with the support of Belarus.
the previous day in Ukraine Elina Svitolina He had done the same before the Russians. Anna Blinkova imposed at the final in Strasbourg. A few months ago, in Indian Wells, Lesia Tsurenko withdrew “for personal reasons” against Sabalenka in the third round. The Ukrainian tennis player would later reveal that he did not play “after having a panic attack”.
anhelina kalinina He also ignored the Russians. Veronika Kudermertova In Rome last week. “A few days ago, a big bomb went off next to my family’s academy 300 meters away…there was an airport. Well, he’s gone,” he denounced.
Whistles from the audience
costukSome of the public whistled for his move, but at the press conference he reaffirmed his decision not to greet his opponent. “I don’t think people will react like that in ten years, I don’t think they’ll be very happy with what they’re doing today when the war is over. I’ve already told him that I won’t salute. None of us. The Ukrainians are doing it,” he said, and also wanted a bigger position in the Sabalenka conflict.
“If I could stop the war, I would”
“He said nothing against the war. He could be #1 and send a powerful message to the world, but that escapes responsibility,” he insisted. costuk About Sabalenka. “If I could stop the war, I would,” he replied. Sabalenka He said that he admitted that he was nervous before the match and that he thought the whistling of the audience at the end of the match was against him.