Victoria Azarenka was booed off court at Wimbledon on Sunday. She lost to Elina Svitolina in the fourth round. The boos were in response to Azarenka not offering a handshake at the net.
Svitolina, from Ukraine, refuses to shake hands with players from Russia or Belarus due to the Russian invasion of her country. Azarenka, from Belarus, doesn’t support the war.
After the match, Victoria Azarenka understood Svitolina’s decision but emphasized the importance of sportsmanship. Victoria Azarenka would have shaken Svitolina’s hand if given the chance.
The Wimbledon crowd didn’t comprehend the situation and booed Azarenka. Some even threw drinks at her. Azarenka was upset and felt unfairly treated.
The incident sparked a debate about sportsmanship in tennis. Some believe Azarenka should have shaken Svitolina’s hand regardless of her disagreement. Others support Azarenka standing up for her beliefs.
Each player has the right to decide whether to shake hands after a match. However, sportsmanship should be respected even during conflicts.
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