2023-07-11 19:23:00
Belarusian Victoria Asarenka was booed at Wimbledon.
IMAGO/USA TODAY Network
No fewer than seven tennis pros from Russia and Belarus were still there at Wimbledon at the start of the second week of the tournament. They are happy regarding the friendly reception of the fans. But there are also misunderstandings.
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Belarusian Victoria Azarenka was whistled at by the crowd at Wimbledon when she considerately refrained from shaking hands with Ukraine’s Yelina Switolina. In general, however, the Russians feel well received by the audience. “I’ve never had such a great reception at Wimbledon,” says world number 3 Daniil Medvedev. In terms of sport, the tennis professionals from Russia and Belarus are doing well. Seven of them were still there at the start of the second week of the tournament.
That’s very rare at Wimbledon. Victoria Azarenka sends the otherwise civilized audience into the dressing room with loud boos – and this following a thrilling round of 16, which she lost 9:11 in the match tie-break of the third set once morest the Ukrainian Jelina Switolina. The Belarusian didn’t do anything wrong – on the contrary.
Why would the Wimbledon crowd boo Victoria Azarenka? It makes no sense. It was Svitolina who has unilaterally decided not to shake hands with certain players. I feel sorry for @vika7 ! pic.twitter.com/zPWWqkwOiM
— Divir Jain (@divirj04) July 9, 2023
Drunk or ignorant
In contrast to Aryna Sabalenka, who had demonstratively waited at the net in Paris for the handshake of Switolina, who was defeated at the time, Azarenka withdrew, but paid her respects to Switolina with a small gesture. However, some of the fans interpreted their behavior as an unsportsmanlike refusal to shake hands with a bad loser. They obviously hadn’t noticed that Svitolina, like all Ukrainians, refuses to shake hands with all Russians and Belarusians because of Russia’s invasion of their country.
“Some of them must have been a little drunk,” said Asarenka, quite frustrated. “I haven’t done anything wrong. I’m not sure many people understood what happened.” All in all, the quite controversial return of the players from Russia and Belarus proceeds without major complications, but above all very successfully. No fewer than three Russians, two Russians and two Belarusians reached the round of 16.
Medvedev was pleasantly surprised
Most of them are also very satisfied with the audience reception. “I didn’t really know what to expect,” admits world number 3 Daniil Medvedev. “I might have imagined that people’s reaction would not be so positive.” But he was pleasantly surprised. “There was zero negative energy. I’ve never had such a great reception at Wimbledon.”
He’s now trying to give something back. How? “By not doing crazy things and not behaving like a selfish child on the pitch,” said the 27-year-old from Moscow, who had already messed with loud New York fans in 2019, laughing. So far he has kept his word and is in the quarter-finals for the first time in the lawn Mecca.
Daniil Medvedev enjoys the friendliness of the fans at Wimbledon.
MAGO/ABACAPRESS
Daughter Skaï has to wait
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Jelina Switolina even reached the semi-finals with a win once morest the world number 1 and Bencic conqueror Iga Swiatek. The handshake with the Pole wasn’t particularly heartfelt because of that. «I am so grateful to Iga for her support of Ukraine. She does everything in her power, »she had previously emphasized. The Ukrainians received help – there were no men in the tableau – also from the British association. This pays for the accommodation of all Ukrainians since the start of the preparatory tournaments on the island.
Someone may not be entirely happy with Svitolina’s success. Her husband Gaël Monfils now has to look following their nine-month-old daughter Skaï at home in France. “I think he’s a bit overwhelmed with babysitting,” she said, laughing following the third round. She had already had to give away tickets for a Harry Styles concert last Saturday because “Wimbledon got in the way”.
desire for clarity
Svitolina has also clearly expressed her opposition to the return of the Russians and Belarusians. Nevertheless, she did not blame Azarenka following the round of 16. “I was booed in Paris, now she. I have no problem with how she behaved, »said the 28-year-old from Odessa. “I’ve always made my position clear. As long as Russian troops are on our land, I will not shake her hand.” The problem is that many people are not aware of this.
She suggested that organizers inform viewers beforehand that the lack of a handshake had nothing to do with the result. This will probably not happen for the time being. “The handshake is a personal decision over which we have no influence. Neither in one direction nor the other, »said tournament director Sally Bolton on Monday. The handshake would only become an issue in the final, if Switolina met the other Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka there.
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