At the Rome WTA 1000 tournament, Ukrainian tennis player Angelina Kalinina explained her decision not to shake hands with Russian competitor Veronika Kudermetova after their match. She stated that while sport is a shared arena, political realities can color interactions off the court, and the choice to skip the handshake was not personal toward Kudermetova but tied to broader tensions between their countries.
Kalinina, who sits at 47 in the WTA rankings, defeated Kudermetova, who is ranked 12th in the world, with a scoreline of 7:5, 5:7, 6:2. The lengthy clash lasted two hours and fifty-one minutes and showcased Kalinina’s resilience as she overcame a challenging opponent to secure the victory.
Following the win, Kalinina moved to shake hands with the match referee, then turned away from Kudermetova and returned to her half of the court. The moment underscored the nuanced etiquette of sportsmanship when beyond-the-game issues influence players’ decisions in high-stakes matches.
In the tournament’s progression, Kalinina had previously defeated Elena Ostapenko of Latvia to reach the final, where she was expected to face Elena Rybakina. The Rome event has drawn attention not only for its on-court drama but also for the broader conversations about national identities and how athletes navigate political sensitivities in international competition.
Separately, a social media post from former Ukrainian football defender Vladislav Vashchuk drew attention as he claimed to be serving with the Ukrainian National Guard, sending shockwaves through his network. The post highlighted how athletes and public figures sometimes stir controversy and public reaction through online statements that intersect with national service and identity issues.