Victoria Azarenka is a champion on and off the court. Vika was extremely vocal in condemning the senseless war that Russia is waging against Ukraine with the help of her country Belarus. Unfortunately, some Ukrainian tennis players decided to have a rather hostile stance against Azarenka.
Dayana Yastremska in Washington and on Thursday Marta Kostyuk refused to have the ritual handshake after a match with Vika.
This was Azarenka’s comment:
“Well, I wasn’t surprised. I don’t believe that making a big deal out of it is important. I always shake hands with my opponents. I had the same situation with Yastremska in Washington. It is what it is. I just move on. I cannot force anybody to shake my hand. It’s their decision.”
🎙️ @vika7 full answer on reaching out to 🇺🇦 players through WTA, what she was told & her relationships with them
"I'm here to try to help, which I have done a lot, maybe not something people see. I do it for juniors who need clothes, other people who need money/transportation." pic.twitter.com/gyxXOrUIzr
— Jay (@theoverrule) September 1, 2022
Vika on Tennis Plays for Peace
"I've been called by USTA & asked if I'd be participating. It's a no-brainer for me. Why wouldn't I participate in an aid for people who are struggling. I thought this is a gesture that shows commitment. I'm not sure why it wasn't taken that way." pic.twitter.com/MBkjloSYW2
— Jay (@theoverrule) September 1, 2022
Marta Kostyuk had more aggressive comments about Vika saying:
“I just don’t think it’s the right thing to do in the circumstances I’m in right now. We had a great match, don’t get me wrong. She’s a great competitor, I respect her as an athlete but that has nothing to do with her being a human being.”
Azarenka at the U.S. Open, ranking, and results in 2022
LLWWLWWLWW At the moment ranked no.26, Victoria has a composed 19-10 match record in 2022. Azarenka is playing at the U.S. Open where she defeated the world no.244 Ashlyn Krueger 6-1 4-6 6-2 and the world no.65 Marta Kostyuk 6-2 6-3.
Victoria Azarenka will play the world no.54 Petra Martic in the 3rd round. Their current head to head is 1-0 for Azarenka.
Victoria won 21 titles in her career: 16 on hard courts, 1 on clay courts and 4 on indoor courts. (See the list of her titles)
Marta Kostyuk in 2022
LLWWLWWLWW At the moment ranked no.65, Marta played her last match on the 1st of September when she was overcome by world no.26 Victoria Azarenka 6-2 6-3 in the 2nd round of the U.S. Open (draw).
Currently, during this year Kostyuk has managed to achieve a compiled 23-15 match record. Marta Kostyuk’s most significant result of the current year was reaching the semifinal in Granby.
Victoria Azarenka and Marta Kostyuk faced off just once. Their actual record is 1-0 for Azarenka. When they played, Victoria Azarenka won 6-2 6-3 in the 2nd round in New York (U.S. Open) on the 1st of September 2022.
Here the highlights.
Dayana Yastremska in 2022
LLLLLLWLWW Now ranked no.86, the Ukrainian played her last match on the 29th of August when she lost to world no.20 Madison Keys 7-6(3) 6-3 in the 1st round in the U.S. Open (draw).
At present, during this year the Ukrainian has a 19-20 record. Dayana Yastremska’s most significant result of this season was reaching the final in Lyon.
