Svitolina, a former world No. 3, has been one of the most vocal players in her criticism of Russia’s invasion of her native Ukraine. She and a number of her countrymen have also established a policy of refusing to shake hands with rival tennis players from Russia and Belarus.
Svitolina was booed by the Parisian crowd after her match against Daria Kasatkina at Roland Garros in June because she didn’t shake hands with her opponent. The oddity is that Kasatkina, a Russian-born player is quite a vocal opponent of her home country’s invasion. So why not acknowledge it?
Svitolina, 28, made it plain that she will not shake hands with Azarenka and expressed her hope that Wimbledon spectators will treat her with respect.
“There were lots of misunderstandings in Paris because in Strasbourg, everyone understood my position. Hopefully [at Wimbledon] will be the same understanding from the British crowd and my position is the same. I am not shaking hands with the Russian and Belarusian players and hopefully this will be nothing new for them.”
It’s important to stress that Azarenka has been quite vocal against the war and she has been living in the US for a long time. So, we are not sure after a fail handshake will be taken in Wimbledon.
Svitolina in Wimbledon, ranking, and results in 2023
LWWLWLWWLW Now ranked no.76, Elina achieved a composed 15-8 record in 2023. Elina is currently competing in Wimbledon where she ousted the world no.558 Venus Williams 6-4 6-3, the world no.28 Elise Mertens 6-1 1-6 6-1 and the world no.128 Sofia Kenin 7-63 6-2.
Elina Svitolina will play the world no.20 Victoria Azarenka in the 4th round on Sunday at 6:00 pm on Court 1. Their actual record is 5-0 for Azarenka.
Svitolina has won 1 title in 2023 in Strasbourg.
Svitolina won 17 titles in her career: 9 on hard courts, 6 on clay courts and 2 on indoor courts. (See the list of her titles)
She is also scheduled to play at the U.S. Open (U.S. Open) after Washington. The main draw will start on the 31st of July.
Azarenka in Wimbledon, ranking, and results in 2023
LLWWLWWLWW Currently the world no.20, the Belarussian has achieved a compiled 17-12 record in 2023. The Belarussian is playing in Wimbledon where she managed to beat the world no.106 Yue Yuan 6-4 5-7 6-4, the world no.80 Nadia Podoroska 6-3 6-0 and the world no.10 Daria Kasatkina 6-2 6-4.
Victoria Azarenka will come up against the world no.76 Elina Svitolina in the 4th round on Sunday at 6:00 pm on Court 1. Their current record is 5-0 for Azarenka.
Azarenka 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)
Elina Svitolina and Victoria Azarenka played each other 5 times. Their record is 5-0 for Azarenka. Before, the last time they competed against each other, Victoria Azarenka won 6-0 6-2 in the 3rd round in Melbourne (Australian Open) in January 2022.
Here are the highlights.
Elina Svitolina and Victoria Azarenka |
| Embed from Getty Images |
