Tennis fans have voiced their opinions on Elina Svitolina’s explanation for refusing handshakes with Russian and Belarussian players. Some fans reckon it is no big deal that the Ukrainian does not wish to shake the hands of players from Russia and Belarus, while others think the opposite.Elina Svitolina advanced to the last 16 of the 2023 French Open with a three-set victory over Anna Blinkova on Friday. She rallied from a set down before winning 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 to book a fourth-round clash against Russia's Daria Kasatkina.In the presser after her third-round victory, Svitolina said that her refusal to shake hands with Russians and Belarussians was an effort to show solidarity with her country’s government, which is currently under attack by Russia.José Morgado@josemorgadoElina Svitolina explains why she doesn’t shake hands with Russians and Belarusians.2293214Elina Svitolina explains why she doesn’t shake hands with Russians and Belarusians. https://t.co/fklph7r15zIn response, many fans criticized the 28-year-old, stating that politics and sports should not be mixed. Some even called Svitolina “racist.”“I can’t believe how big of a controversy it is to people boohoo they’re not shaking hands they’re not f***ing dead,” one fan wrote.drama queen@penkostephensI can’t believe how big of a controversy it is to people boohoo they’re not shaking hands they’re not fucking dead twitter.com/josemorgado/st…José Morgado@josemorgadoElina Svitolina explains why she doesn’t shake hands with Russians and Belarusians.29214Elina Svitolina explains why she doesn’t shake hands with Russians and Belarusians. https://t.co/fklph7r15zI can’t believe how big of a controversy it is to people boohoo they’re not shaking hands they’re not fucking dead twitter.com/josemorgado/st…“What Elina needs to realise is that the players are obviously not politicians or army soldiers, so there’s absolutely no need for her racist behaviour towards them,” wrote another.Ijaz Uddin@uddinbijaz97@josemorgado What Elina needs to realise is that the players are obviously not politicians or army soldiers, so there’s absolutely no need for her racist behaviour towards them. 🤷‍♂️651@josemorgado What Elina needs to realise is that the players are obviously not politicians or army soldiers, so there’s absolutely no need for her racist behaviour towards them. 🤷‍♂️One of the fans claimed that if Ukrainians could not shake hands with Russians, they should also refuse to play against them. Another expressed the opinion that sport should unite people and not be mixed with politics."If their views and alliances are so strong for their country why don’t they refuse to play against a Russian? Why do they play against a Russian in such a civilised manor but not follow through with a handshake," one user tweeted.Stacey@StaceyS47363102@josemorgado If their views and alliances are so strong for their country why don’t they refuse to play against a Russian? Why do they play against a Russian in such a civilised manor but not follow through with a handshake.441@josemorgado If their views and alliances are so strong for their country why don’t they refuse to play against a Russian? Why do they play against a Russian in such a civilised manor but not follow through with a handshake.Mam'zees palmoil@MamZees@josemorgado After the war, will the handshake resume? Sport is something that should unite us. Don’t mix politics in sport please 🏿🏿181@josemorgado After the war, will the handshake resume? Sport is something that should unite us. Don’t mix politics in sport please 🙏🏿🙏🏿Here are more reactions from the fans:Gauri🌈@GauriiA13You do you, mama! Not a lot of us can fathom what it's like having family stuck in a war torn country. I'm sure the players understand it too why a Ukrainian player wouldn't want a handshake it's not that deep twitter.com/josemorgado/st…José Morgado@josemorgadoElina Svitolina explains why she doesn’t shake hands with Russians and Belarusians.6214Elina Svitolina explains why she doesn’t shake hands with Russians and Belarusians. https://t.co/fklph7r15zYou do you, mama! Not a lot of us can fathom what it's like having family stuck in a war torn country. I'm sure the players understand it too why a Ukrainian player wouldn't want a handshake it's not that deep twitter.com/josemorgado/st…abbiemc@abbiemcThis is a great answer. Elina has been really clear on both the bans and this that she will support Ukrainian policy on this, and her answer is why. If we have a problem with any of these policies, it’s not her we should be coming for twitter.com/josemorgado/st…José Morgado@josemorgadoElina Svitolina explains why she doesn’t shake hands with Russians and Belarusians.8214Elina Svitolina explains why she doesn’t shake hands with Russians and Belarusians. https://t.co/fklph7r15zThis is a great answer. Elina has been really clear on both the bans and this that she will support Ukrainian policy on this, and her answer is why. If we have a problem with any of these policies, it’s not her we should be coming for twitter.com/josemorgado/st…Tennis Inside Out@TennisInsideOutAn excellent response, that shouldn't even need explaining, but there it is. Also, the ensuing comments gave me a chance to block horrific people whom I clearly don't need to hear from ever again. twitter.com/josemorgado/st…José Morgado@josemorgadoElina Svitolina explains why she doesn’t shake hands with Russians and Belarusians.10214Elina Svitolina explains why she doesn’t shake hands with Russians and Belarusians. https://t.co/fklph7r15zAn excellent response, that shouldn't even need explaining, but there it is. Also, the ensuing comments gave me a chance to block horrific people whom I clearly don't need to hear from ever again. twitter.com/josemorgado/st…High Blood Pressure@thetwinkwolffSo nicely put. I’m so happy she’s bringing in some good energy and perspective to the situation rather than going berserk all the time. twitter.com/josemorgado/st…José Morgado@josemorgadoElina Svitolina explains why she doesn’t shake hands with Russians and Belarusians.4214Elina Svitolina explains why she doesn’t shake hands with Russians and Belarusians. https://t.co/fklph7r15zSo nicely put. I’m so happy she’s bringing in some good energy and perspective to the situation rather than going berserk all the time. twitter.com/josemorgado/st…OrvilleLloydDouglas🇨🇦🏳️‍🌈@OrvilleLloyd@josemorgado Understandable Elina Svitolina point of view. I don't understand how anyone be upset about this. Ukranians are dying due to Russian military aggression.63@josemorgado Understandable Elina Svitolina point of view. I don't understand how anyone be upset about this. Ukranians are dying due to Russian military aggression.Anselm@Root_boi@josemorgado Why is Ukraine Athletes this way, You're a professional, stop mixing politics and sports, two different things....962@josemorgado Why is Ukraine Athletes this way, You're a professional, stop mixing politics and sports, two different things....Sportfisher@Sportfisher_01@josemorgado Agree or disagree it’s a fair explanation.7@josemorgado Agree or disagree it’s a fair explanation.JJS@Jjs24Jjs@josemorgado Completely understandable46@josemorgado Completely understandableRennae Stubbs applauds Elina Svitolina for her warm net exchange with Anna Blinkova at French OpenElina Svitolina through to the 2023 French Open fourth roundElina Svitolina looked like she wanted to hug her 2023 French Open third-round opponent Anna Blinkova after securing a three-set victory, according to Rennae Stubbs. The Ukrainian gave her opponent a thumbs up at the net, and the two exchanged a “thank you (spasibo)” in Russian.Regardless, due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Svitolina maintained her stance of no handshakes with players from the country."You saw Elina look at Anna and say 'thank you' in their native tongue and the thumbs up," Stubbs tweeted. "Then u saw them briefly stand there for a second, and I think in that moment Elina would have liked to not have a war happening in her country to be able to appreciate the match her and Anna just played."Rennae Stubbs 🟦👍🏼@rennaestubbsYou saw Elina look at Anna & say Thank you in their native tongue & the thumbs up. Then u saw them briefly stand there for a second & I think in that moment Elina would have liked to not have a war happening in her country to be able to appreciate the match her & Anna just played1283You saw Elina look at Anna & say Thank you in their native tongue & the thumbs up. Then u saw them briefly stand there for a second & I think in that moment Elina would have liked to not have a war happening in her country to be able to appreciate the match her & Anna just playedElina Svitolina will next face another Russian, Daria Kasatkina, in the fourth round of the 2023 French Open.