"More time to spread hate in the WTA" - Tennis fans react as Elina Svitolina refuses to shake hands with Aliaksandra Sasnovich after Madrid Open loss

Tennis fans have leveled accusations of poor sportsmanship against Elina Svitolina after she declined to shake hands with Belarusian opponent Aliaksandra Sasnovich at the 2023 Madrid Open.Ever since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, Ukrainian players have frequently expressed discomfort at having to play against opponents from Russia and Belarus. Svitolina has been particularly vocal about the issue, and has even called for Russian and Belarusian players to be banned from the 2023 Wimbledon Championships and the 2024 Paris Olympics.The All England Lawn Tennis &amp; Croquet Club, however, recently announced that Russian and Belarusian players will be permitted to compete at Wimbledon 2023. A ban was imposed on these players last year by the Championships, but this year there will be no such restriction.In Madrid, following her 4-6, 5-7 first round loss, Svitolina refused to shake hands with Sasnovich, and only did so with the chair umpire. The action has been met with disapproval from tennis enthusiasts worldwide, with many criticizing Svitolina.&quot;Poor sportsmanship. Even russian players are clearly against the war, it's not their fault neither their choice. All the time every sport tries to split from politics and reactions like this get them closer again. Shameful,&quot; one fan wrote.Paulo Santos@paulosf94@josemorgado Poor sportsmanship. Even russian players are clearly against the war, it's not their fault neither their choice. All the time every sport tries to split from politics and reactions like this get them closer again. Shameful12@josemorgado Poor sportsmanship. Even russian players are clearly against the war, it's not their fault neither their choice. All the time every sport tries to split from politics and reactions like this get them closer again. ShamefulAnother fan pointed to Svitolina's previous claims about Russians and Belarusians on the WTA tour, claiming that she will have more time to spread such hatred now that she has lost.&quot;Good!! More time to spread hate in the WTA,&quot; they wrote.KENNY🐺 🐊@kenialachula2@josemorgado Good!! More time to spread hate in the WTA14@josemorgado Good!! More time to spread hate in the WTAHere are a few more reactions from fans:George W. Ford@GeorgeWFord1@josemorgado How is refusing to shake hands at the net beneficial to Ukraine? Would you refuse to tip a waiter in Spain if you knew his family was Russian?8@josemorgado How is refusing to shake hands at the net beneficial to Ukraine? Would you refuse to tip a waiter in Spain if you knew his family was Russian?ben@ittakespushidk how to feel about this like russian and belarusian players arent responsible for their countries actions and what can they even do in their power to prevent it twitter.com/josemorgado/st…José Morgado@josemorgadoElina Svitolina out in Madrid R1 to Aliaksandra Sasnovich, 6-4, 7-5. Was a break up in the 2nd set. No handshake between the Ukrainian and the Belarusian.40228Elina Svitolina out in Madrid R1 to Aliaksandra Sasnovich, 6-4, 7-5. Was a break up in the 2nd set. No handshake between the Ukrainian and the Belarusian. https://t.co/3gsN7FAUMsidk how to feel about this like russian and belarusian players arent responsible for their countries actions and what can they even do in their power to prevent it twitter.com/josemorgado/st…Arianna@AriannaTenisci@josemorgado Im happy she lost and I don’t even feel bad. Her behavior is pathetic64@josemorgado Im happy she lost and I don’t even feel bad. Her behavior is patheticBroken era 💔@RajBhandari1001Idk about others, but for me that was BAD from Elina tbh. twitter.com/josemorgado/st…José Morgado@josemorgadoElina Svitolina out in Madrid R1 to Aliaksandra Sasnovich, 6-4, 7-5. Was a break up in the 2nd set. No handshake between the Ukrainian and the Belarusian.928Elina Svitolina out in Madrid R1 to Aliaksandra Sasnovich, 6-4, 7-5. Was a break up in the 2nd set. No handshake between the Ukrainian and the Belarusian. https://t.co/3gsN7FAUMsIdk about others, but for me that was BAD from Elina tbh. twitter.com/josemorgado/st…FanofPrincessCatherineandElenaRybakina@princess228K@josemorgado Not shaking hands with Germans because of Hitler, and no shaking hands with Americans for all the war crimes committed by America, no shaking hands with Japanese because of what they did in Nanking, no shaking hands with Chinese because of what they did to Peng Shui, no shaking…14@josemorgado Not shaking hands with Germans because of Hitler, and no shaking hands with Americans for all the war crimes committed by America, no shaking hands with Japanese because of what they did in Nanking, no shaking hands with Chinese because of what they did to Peng Shui, no shaking…Mark B 🇬🇧🇺🇸🇮🇱@SternhammerWulf@josemorgado I find it all sad. Aliaksandra and the other Belarusian/Russian players are not responsible for the conflict in Ukraine.108@josemorgado I find it all sad. Aliaksandra and the other Belarusian/Russian players are not responsible for the conflict in Ukraine.AlexSkotnikov@AlexSkotnikov@josemorgado I wonder what Svitolina will do when she'll play against Russian Jewish players like Shnaider. Because it will be awkward (on the other hand Ukrainians are known for their antisemitism).12@josemorgado I wonder what Svitolina will do when she'll play against Russian Jewish players like Shnaider. Because it will be awkward (on the other hand Ukrainians are known for their antisemitism).bardi@miralles_41@josemorgado Very trashy sportsmanship from Elina! Grow up.19@josemorgado Very trashy sportsmanship from Elina! Grow up.𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐞 Æ | ♑ #𝑭𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒐𝒎 💜@LilyYog83@josemorgado Svitolina is so stupid, sport should bring people together and not divide them! But apparently, she prefers to continue her hatred towards Russian and Belarusian players and sell us her propaganda of nice Ukrainians...This girl is pathetic, I already didn't like her before but… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…24@josemorgado Svitolina is so stupid, sport should bring people together and not divide them! But apparently, she prefers to continue her hatred towards Russian and Belarusian players and sell us her propaganda of nice Ukrainians...This girl is pathetic, I already didn't like her before but… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…| anklebxters |@forapessimist2this is so beyond like you are making an even bigger problem by doing dumb shit such as this twitter.com/josemorgado/st…José Morgado@josemorgadoElina Svitolina out in Madrid R1 to Aliaksandra Sasnovich, 6-4, 7-5. Was a break up in the 2nd set. No handshake between the Ukrainian and the Belarusian.328Elina Svitolina out in Madrid R1 to Aliaksandra Sasnovich, 6-4, 7-5. Was a break up in the 2nd set. No handshake between the Ukrainian and the Belarusian. https://t.co/3gsN7FAUMsthis is so beyond like you are making an even bigger problem by doing dumb shit such as this twitter.com/josemorgado/st…&quot;I don't think about it&quot; - Elina Svitolina on Russian and Belarusian athletes competing at upcoming Paris OlympicsElina SvitolinaElina Svitolina recently addressed the possibility of Russian and Belarusian athletes competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics under neutral colors. She claimed that it was not her responsibility, but instead the duty of the Olympic Committees, to take the necessary action.The former World No. 3 also declared that as a player, she would just focus on doing her best to get ready for the event.&quot;I don't think about it. It's up to the Olympic Committee and the Ukrainian Committee to think about it and do their job! My job, as a player, is to get ready,&quot; Elina Svitolina said.

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