"No need for her racist behavior" - Tennis fans react strongly to Elina Svitolina's reasons for refusing to shake hands with Russian players

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.

In 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.

“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.

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.

Here are more reactions from the fans:

Rennae Stubbs applauds Elina Svitolina for her warm net exchange with Anna Blinkova at French Open

Elina Svitolina through to the 2023 French Open fourth round

Elina 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."

Elina Svitolina will next face another Russian, Daria Kasatkina, in the fourth round of the 2023 French Open.