Elina Svitolina recently shared her views on maintaining her no-handshake stance with Russian tennis players.
The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has been ongoing since 2022, following Russia’s full-scale invasion.
The Ukrainian star explained that she refuses handshakes with Russian players as a protest against a government she accuses of committing “horrible” acts against her people.
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Svitolina led Ukraine to their first-ever Billie Jean King Cup semifinal after a hard-fought victory over Paula Badosa.
Svitolina is playing currently at the Billie Jean King Cup and she earned a spot for Ukraine to reach the semifinals after defeating Paula Badosa in the quarter-finals. In this securing win 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 against the Spanish and Marta Kostyuk defeating Jessica Maneiro earlier with in the same day, Ukrainian team has reached the semi-final for the first time.
After this match Svitolina said,
“I doesn’t want anything to do with a government, who has done ‘horrible’ things to the Ukrainians. Showing solidarity with her people.”
“I can only able to speak from my perspective. As a Ukrainian, it pains me greatly to wake up every day to news of Russian missiles falling on my country, destroying and even killing our people.”
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“That’s why I think any kind of propaganda must stop on this. I really don’t want anything to do with a government that does horrible things to my home people. I would like to peace for my country, to return to Ukraine without fear for my life or that of my family.”
The 31-year-old Ukrainian has been one of the most vocal advocates on this topic. She showing full support to Ukraine various times while she was court.
She wearing a black ribbon during the 2024 Wimbledon Championships and writing an emotional message for the Ukrainians, the player has always expressed her feelings about the ongoing situations.
While Svitolina reflected on not shaking hands with Daria Kasatkina at the 2023 French open, she defeated the Russian player Daria Kastkina in the fourth round. After this match ended both two players did not shake hands with each other. Both has a thumbs-up gesture between the two.
Elina added,
“So that is why it follows. We are Ukrainians and we all unite for one goal for the goal of winning this war. We do everything what is on regarding this topic.”
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