Australian Open fans boo as post-match handshake refused | Tennis | Sport

Boos rained down on Mirra Andreeva as she raced straight to her equipment and then away from the court following defeat to Elina Svitolina. The Ukrainian star defeated eighth seed Andreeva 6-2, 6-4 to set up a tie with Coco Gauff.

While Andreeva, 18, received the vitriol of the Aussie fans after not showing for a handshake at the net from her opponent, she was likely correct not to anticipate such an embrace from Svitolina. The world’s No.12 has made a stand by refusing to shake hands with Russian or Belarusian opponents since the invasion of her home country began.

Last year, Svitolina saw her actions questioned when she refused to shake hands with Veronika Kudermetova and instead immediately shook hands with the chair umpire before making a beeline to a broadcast camera to write a message.

“The spirit of Ukraine,” Svitolina wrote and drew of a heart on the camera. 

Mirra Andreeva has played the Australian Open under a neutral flag and is unable to compete in several competitions, including the Olympics and the Davis Cup, under Russian colours. The 18-year-old competed as a neutral athlete without the flag or the Russian national anthem when teaming with Diana Shnaider at Paris 2024, winning the silver medal under the name Individual Neutral Athletes.

Several players have stopped representing Russia since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. One of the latest was Daria Kasatkina who recently gained Australian citizenship. Similarly, Anastasia Potapova now represents Austria, having switched in December.

“Many players have switched, but I’m going to keep playing as I am, I haven’t had any offers or anything like that, so for now, I’ll continue as is. It doesn’t bring any extra pressure for me. I’m just doing my thing on the court. I focus on how to improve and be a better tennis player.”

Svitolina, who is married to French tennis veteran Gael Monfils, admitted she was not relaxed as she qualified for the quarter-finals. “I was not chill tonight,” she laughed.

“So he [Monfils] wouldn’t be happy! But I think he may be happy with my win today. I think it was more sad for the matches when you lose. Of course, most of your career you kind of lose matches every week and have to bounce back, go back on the court and try to put the work in to try again next week and do better.”