Aryna Sabalenka, the Belarusian tennis player, initially thought that the boos and whistles from the French Open crowd were directed at her after winning her first-round match. However, it was later revealed that the negative reaction was aimed at her opponent, Marta Kostyuk, for not participating in the usual post-match handshake at the net. Kostyuk, a Ukrainian player, avoided eye contact with Sabalenka and directly went to the chair umpire to acknowledge the match’s end. Sabalenka walked towards the net, expecting some sort of exchange. It is a practice that Kostyuk has been following whenever she has faced any opponent from Russia or Belarus since her country was invaded by Russia, with help from Belarus, in February 2022.
Sabalenka won the match with a score of 6-3, 6-2, grabbing six games in a row during one stretch. She stated that the match was “tough emotionally.” During an on-court interview in the main stadium, Sabalenka told the spectators she was sure their jeering “was against me, so I was a little surprised, but then I felt your support.”
Explanation
The French Open crowd’s reaction towards Kostyuk’s refusal to shake hands with Sabalenka was perplexing, as they did not know the backstory behind it. Kostyuk did not follow the usual tennis etiquette by congratulating the winner after the lopsided result. Before play began on Day 1 of the clay-court tournament, the players did not pose together for the standard photos up at the net after the coin toss to determine who would serve first.
It is not the first time that Kostyuk has shown such behavior. In March, she won her first WTA title in Austin, Texas, by beating a Russian opponent, and neither player went to the net afterward that day. Sabalenka was aware of Kostyuk’s behavior and commented on it during her pre-tournament news conference. However, Sabalenka stated that if Kostyuk hates her, she cannot do anything about it and does not feel anything towards her.
The French Open crowd’s reaction towards Kostyuk’s refusal to shake hands with Sabalenka shows the importance of understanding the context behind people’s actions. Kostyuk’s refusal was not due to bad sportsmanship, but rather a political statement towards Belarus and Russia. It is a reminder to not be quick to judge and to take the time to understand the situation fully. As for Sabalenka, she showed grace and sportsmanship despite the negative reaction from the crowd.
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