cnn
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Tennis player Elina Svitolina called her opponent, Russian Daria Kasatkina, “brave” after the Ukrainian's surprise victory on Sunday.
Svitolina, who previously said she would not shake hands with Russian and Belarusian opponents out of respect for the men and women defending Ukraine, told reporters she “recognised” Kasatkina after the match.
Kasatkina has been an outspoken critic of the war, describing it last year as a “nightmare,” according to the New York Times.
Last month, Kasatkina, the top-ranked Russian tennis player, also expressed sympathy for Ukrainian tennis players who refuse to shake her hand after matches.
“Really grateful for the position she took on. she is [a] “It's a really brave person to say it publicly, but not many players did,” Svitolina said, after advancing to the quarterfinals of the French Open.
“She is brave”.
Instead of shaking his hand, Kasatkina gave her opponent the nod at the net after losing the match 6-4, 7-6 (7-5). She later said that she was disappointed to hear boos from some members of the crowd.
“Leaving Paris with a very bitter feeling. All these days, after every game I have played in Paris, I always appreciate and thank the public for their support and for being there for the players,” Kasatkina. tweeted Monday.
“But yesterday I was booed for being respectful of my opponent's position and not shaking hands.
“Elina and I showed each other respect after a difficult game, but leaving the court like this was the worst part of yesterday. Be better, love each other. Don't spread hate. Try to make this world better.”
Kasatkina, who last year announced she was gay and criticized Russia's attitudes toward homosexuality, has maintained her stance against the war in Ukraine.
“The saddest part is that the war continues,” the 26-year-old said last month. “Of course, Ukrainian players have many reasons not to shake our hands. I accept it and that's how it is. It is a very sad situation and I understand it.”
Playing in her first major since the 2022 Australian Open and her first since becoming a mother, Svitolina said she was only focused on recovery and preparation for her next match.
“Of course I would love to win here,” Svitolina said. “It will be the dream, but it has always been in my career step by step.
“I think this is the only right way to do it, not to look too far into the future, because otherwise you will lose concentration on the little things that lead you to win games.”
Svitolina will face Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka in the next round on Tuesday.
Sabalenka, the world No. 2, stopped participating in the tournament's usual post-match press conferences after saying she did not feel safe at an earlier press conference where she was asked about her country's participation in the tournament. war.
Sabalenka said in March that it was difficult for her to understand the “hatred” she encountered in the locker room amid the tense relations between some players after the invasion of Ukraine: Belarus is being used as a key stage for Russia.
“About the war situation, I said many, many times, no one in this world – Russian athletes, Belarusian athletes – supports war. Nobody. How can we support the war? Normal people will never support it,” he stated.
Russian and Belarusian players currently continue to compete on circuits as neutral athletes without showing their flag or country.
