Marta Kostyuk won the Austin tournament - her first WTA level tournament win.
She did not shake her opponent's hand because Kostyuk is Ukrainian and Gracheva, her opponent, is Russian.
She also refused to mention her opponent in her 'victory speech', and there were no photos taken of the two players together with their respective trophies, as there usually is, apparently at Kostyuk's demand.
Kostyuk also refused to shake Azarenka's hand after their U.S. Open match last year (Azarenka is from Belarus), and has gone on record as saying she won't shake hands with any Russian or Belarusian player.
Kostyuk also refused to participate in a charity event to raise money and awareness for Ukraine simply because Azarenka was also scheduled to participate in the event.
There are divided opinions on this ignoring of sporting protocol. In reading through several articles on the matter of the missing handshake (and there are many articles), I have chosen to include the one below, because it goes into some detail from both sides. It's not the most well written article, but it'll suffice for introducing the subject.
Along with the article, I ask you to submit your perspective on Kostyuk refusing to shake hands with her opponent. Was she right to do this, or was she wrong? And why.
My perspective is that she is wrong to do this, as the sporting field is supposed to be one of fair play and respect. If you don't respect your opponent, then you shouldn't embark on the playing surface to compete against them. If you embark on the playing surface with an opponent, and battle for the win, you should be prepared to play fair and to show genuine respect and shake hands when the dual is finished, regardless of who wins. This is the principle that sport is founded upon, and I feel it should be upheld.
I feel that Kostyuks behaviour is extremely immature. While this is not uncommon for 20 years olds, I'd have hoped that someone around her would help her to see life from a less narrow perspective. Sadly, that doesn't seem to have occurred - at least not successfully.
I can admire the strength of Kostuyk's determination - but I feel she is pointed in the wrong direction.
I can understand that Kostyuk is obviously upset by what the country of Russia is doing to her country of Ukraine. Her anger and sadness is completely justified. That war/invasion is, however, a completely separate issue from a tennis match. And, in refusing to shake hands with any Russian or Belarusian opponent, she has, in effect, brought the war/invasion to the tennis courts, when she had the opportunity to bring peace instead.
What say you?
Kostyuk Wins, Then Ignores Opponent
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