Elina Svitolina will refuse again to shake hands with Vika Azarenka after their upcoming match in Washington. This is a controversial policy adopted by all the Ukrainian tennis players when facing opponents from either Russia or Belarus, even if they were openly against the war.

However, something funny happened during the latest match between Elina Svitolina and Vika Azarenka at Wimbledon. After the missing handshake, the local crowd was upset with the Belarusian player, thinking that it was Vika who refused the handshake because she was upset about losing. Therefore, Azarenka was heavily booed when she left the Centre Court.

This episode prompted a proper discussion, and the conclusion was that the fans need to be advised about the upcoming missing handshake at the beginning of the match.

Elina Svitolina commented: “Just yesterday, I spoke with Steve Simon (the WTA CEO) and he told me that they would announce before our match that there would be no handshake. So I am happy with that.”

Victoria Azarenka in 2023

Victoria Azarenka

12 - 12win/loss

Hard

7-7

Clay

2-3

Grass

3-2

Rank
133

High
1

36 year old

LWWLLWWWLW

2025 Highlights

3rd

BrisbaneU.S. Open

2nd

DubaiIndian WellsMiamiRomeFrench OpenBad Homburg

1st

Australian OpenDohaMadridWimbledon

SEE ALL

Currently the world no.19, Victoria played her last match on the 9^th of July when she lost to world no.27 Elina Svitolina 2-6 6-4 7-6(9) in the 4^th round in Wimbledon (draw).

Until now, during this year Azarenka has achieved a compiled 17-13 record. Victoria Azarenka’s most significant performance of the current year was reaching the semifinal at the Australian Open.

She is also scheduled to play at the U.S. Open (U.S. Open) after Montreal. The main draw will start on the 7th of August.

Wimbledon

Azarenka's Record

Elina Svitolina in 2023

Elina Svitolina

34 - 20win/loss

Hard

14-12

I Hard

0-2

Clay

17-4

Grass

3-2

Rank
14

High
3

31 year old

LLLLLWWWLL

2025 Highlights

W

Rouen

SF

Madrid

QF

Australian OpenIndian WellsRomeFrench OpenMontreal

SEE ALL

At the moment ranked no.27, Elina played her last match on the 13^th of July when she lost to world no.10 Marketa Vondrousova 6-3 6-3 in the semifinal in Wimbledon (draw).

Currently, during this season the Ukrainian has managed to achieve a 17-9 match record. The Ukrainian has won 1 title in Strasbourg.

Wimbledon

Svitolina's Record

Victoria Azarenka and Elina Svitolina faced off 6 times. Their current head to head is 5-1 for Azarenka. Before, the last time they locked horns, Elina Svitolina won 2-6 6-4 7-6(9) in the 4^th round in London (Wimbledon) on the 9^th of July 2023.

You can watch the highlights in the following video.