Australian Open semi-finalist refuses to shake Aryna Sabalenka’s hand after brutal defeat | Tennis | Sport

Aryna Sabalenka and Elina Svitolina did not shake hands at the end of their Australian Open semi-final after a pre-match announcement was made. Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Svitolina and other Ukrainian tennis players have not met their Russian and Belarusian rivals at the net for a handshake, and that was no different on Thursday evening in Melbourne.

When Svitolina faced Russian No. 8 seed Mirra Andreeva in the fourth round, Andreeva was well aware that the 31-year-old wouldn’t shake her hand, and went straight to her bench instead. She was booed, with some in the crowd not realising the reasoning for the lack of handshake.

To prevent something similar in Thursday’s semi-final, the on-court emcee gave the Rod Laver Arena crowd a heads-up before both players took to the court. “At the end of the match, there will be no handshake between the players. We appreciate your respect for the athletes during and after the match,” they said.

This announcement was made again on the changeover, with Sabalenka leading 5-2 in the second set. The top seed clinched a 6-2 6-3 victory, winning six of the last seven games from a break down, and both players walked to shake hands with the chair umpire.

Svitolina gathered her things after losing a fourth Grand Slam semi-final, as her quest to reach a maiden final continues. Sabalenka applauded the No. 12 seed of the court as she departed Rod Laver Arena, waving goodbye to the crowd.

Now through to her fourth straight Aussie Open final, Sabalenka also piled praise on her opponent. “I cannot believe that, that’s an incredible achievement, but the job is not done yet,” the world No. 1 said of her run of finals.

“I am super happy with the win, she is such a tough opponent and was playing really incredible tennis throughout the whole week, and I am just super happy to be through this tough match.”

Sabalenka will now face either Elena Rybakina or Jessica Pegula, two opponents she knows very well. In 2023, the Belarusian came from a set down to beat Rybakina in the final here, lifting her first Grand Slam title. The world No. 1 also beat Pegula in another Major final at the 2024 US Open.

And she became emotional when asked what her 10-year-old self would think of the fact that she is just the second woman to reach four consecutive finals here, after Martina Hingis. “I would never think that I would be able to first of all make it to the top 10 and to be that consistent and be able to play in on such big arenas in front of you all and feel the support,” Sabalenka said.

“It is just a dream life and every day I am grateful for everything I have. I hope she would be proud of me.”