Victoria Azarenka was the protagonist of a truly wonderful match in the 4th round of Wimbledon 2023, where she was defeated in the super tie-break of the third set by Elina Svitolina, at the end of an exciting challenge.
Furthermore, a challenge full of meaning: two tennis mothers on two different fronts, divided by the war in Ukraine, with all the tension that follows.
And the moment of greatest tension was consumed at the end of the match. Svitolina, as all Ukrainian tennis players now do, did not shake Azarenka’s hand, because she is Belarusian. Vika nodded greetings and respect to her opponent at the end of the match.
However, the Wimbledon crowd booed the Belarusian tennis player, who exited Court 1 visibly upset. And that turned into cold fury, at the press conference, when Azarenka called the Wimbledon crowd drunk.
Victoria Azarenka is furious with Wimbledon crowd: “They are drunks”
She said: “It wasn’t right, but it is what it is and what can I do? I haven’t done anything wrong, but I can’t control the crowd. I’m not sure many people understand what’s going on. But if people they’ll just focus on handshakes, then it’s a pretty drunk crowd, booing at the end, and then it’s a shame.
Svitolina said about the matter: “It would be good if the tennis authorities released a statement explaining the position of the Ukrainian players. It was like that for me in Paris, they booed me and it was unfair. I have already said several times that until until Russian troops are out of Ukraine and we take back our territories, we won’t shake hands with players from those countries.
I hope I was clear. Also, when I play against Russian and Belarusian, I feel more pressure and that’s why it means a lot to get these kind of victories. In my way, it’s to bring this victory, small victory, to Ukraine.”
Svitolina and all the other Ukrainian tennis players all refused to shake hands with Russian and Belarusian rivals at the recent French Open, and Svitolina herself and Marta Kostyuk were the subject of roars of disapproval from the Paris crowd over their position after losing to Belarusian world number two Aryna Sabalenka.