Svitolina Explains Reasons For Not Shaking Hands With Russian Opponent At Roland Garros
WTASaturday, 03 June 2023 at 07:00
Updated at Monday, 11 August 2025 at 14:05
Elina Svitolina's match against Anna Blinkova during the third round of the 2023 Roland Garros ended without a handshake, and after the match, the Ukrainian player explained her actions.
Despite an incredible performance from the Ukrainian, who won already her eighth consecutive match on the WTA Tour, the 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 victory was not the main story for some of the fans after the match.
Instead, it was Svitolina's decision to refuse a handshake with her opponent, something her Ukrainian compatriot, Marta Kostyuk, had also decided against earlier in the tournament when she met Aryna Sabalenka.
After the match, Svitolina explained that her decision not to shake hands is something that comes from the Ukrainian government figures, who did not shake hands with Russians when they attended meetings after the War in Ukraine started.
"Well, you know, it started, you know, with the government, Ukrainian government, that went, you know, to the meetings also with the Russian government."
"They were against shaking the hands because they're not sharing the same values, obviously, and what it's doing, what the Russians doing to our country."
Svitolina explained that Ukrainians are now united by this gesture, which they use to show that they stand by their country in these difficult times.
"So that's why it follows. We are Ukrainians, we all unite for one goal, for the goal of winning this war, and we do everything what is on regarding this topic, you know."
"So I'm Ukrainian. I'm standing for my country. I'm doing everything possible in the way to support, to give a good spirit for the men, for the women who are right now in the front line who are fighting for our land, for our country."
Svitolina herself is trying to help as she has donated all of her prize money from her recent triumph to Ukraine, and the Ukrainian plans to donate also prize money earned at the 2023 Roland Garros.
"So can you imagine the guy or a girl who is right now in a front line, you know, looking at me and I'm, like, acting like nothing is happening. I'm representing my country. I have a voice. I'm standing with Ukraine. I'm standing, I have my position in this war. What is Russian government or Russian soldiers are doing on our land is really, really terrible."
"For us, it's just our position in this, and it touches many different areas. It touches sport, it touches acting, it touches all different areas. So, you know, we are all united, Ukrainians. And this is our position."
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