Sabalenka wants protection from ‘hate’ after being booed by Azarenka | mail malaysia

LONDON, July 11 — Women’s tennis chiefs yesterday urged the audience to show «understanding and respect» as Ukrainian players refused to shake hands with their opponents Russia and Belarus in protest of the fight. happening in their country.

The WTA, the governing body of the women’s game, became the first regulator to admit to requiring them to publicly explain the rationale for this position.

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Earlier yesterday, Aryna Sabalenka supported Elina Svitolina’s call for officials to respond to help protect players from «a lot of hate».

Victoria Azarenka, from Belarus, was booed after her defeat to Ukraine’s Svitolina at Wimbledon on Sunday.

As has become popular, Svitolina did not join hands with Azarenka to protest Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Belarus is an important military ally of Moscow.

Azarenka, who raised her hand towards Svitolina, in what appeared to be a gesture of respect, left the field to the boos of some sections of the crowd.

The two-time Australian Open champion said her treatment was «unfair».

«I thought it was a great tennis match,» she added.

«If people just focus on the handshakes or the crowd, the drunken crowd, and finally the booing, it’s embarrassing.»

Svitolina and fellow Ukrainian players both refused to shake hands with the Russians and Belarusians at the recent French Open.

She called on sports governing bodies to explain the views of Ukrainian players.

«I don’t know if people might not be clear, some people don’t really know what’s going on,» she said.

«So I think this is (the) thing to do.»

Belarusian second seed Sabalenka, who beat Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova yesterday to reach the quarterfinals, backed Svitolina’s call.

«Like Elina said, I think someone has to make a social media announcement that there will be no handshake so that the players don’t leave the field with so much hate,» she said.

«It would have been better if the crowd really knew what was going on. There was a reason behind not shaking hands.»

Hours later, the WTA, which described the fight as «reprehensible», said it respected the views of the Ukrainian players as it was a «personal decision».

«We have some of the greatest fans in the world and are grateful for their passion and dedication, and we thank them for their understanding and respect for the athletes, » they said in a statement.

Men’s third seed Daniil Medvedev said it was «regrettable» that Azarenka was booed.

The Russian added: «I think people don’t know the story behind it, and that’s why it happened.»

personal decision

All England Club CEO Sally Bolton said Wimbledon had no plans to make a statement.

«In the history of tennis, the decision about how a player reacts at the end of a match is completely their own personal decision and I think we don’t really want to start forcing what happens,» she said. speak.

«I think we have an incredibly knowledgeable audience at Wimbledon and I think most of them will understand what’s going on.»

She admitted being unable to control the crowd, calling for sport-centric action.

The four Wimbledon quarter-finalists represent Russia or Belarus, a year after athletes from those two countries were banned by the All England Club.

Bolton was asked how the tournament organizers would feel handing the trophy to a player from either country.

«When we made the decision earlier this year to accept the Russians and the Belarusians, we thought very carefully about all that, and having made the decision to accept them, we felt comfortable. about how that happened,» she said.

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