Victoria Azarenka releases statement after furious rant on booing Wimbledon crowd | Tennis | Sport

Azarenka’s comments come after she walked off court in apparent bemusement, smiling with disbelief and shaking her head as the boos followed her off court and down the tunnel. She made a gesture in response, clasping her her fists together above her head, but is yet to explain the reason behind it.

Her opponent Svitolina, who had experienced booing at the French Open for failing to shake hands with three Russian and Belarusian opponents on her way to the quarter-finals, said she had little sympathy as a result.

“Well, I got the same. I got the same in Paris. I played three matches in Paris in this way. Today, as well.

“For me personally, I think the tennis organisations, they have to come out with a statement that there will be no handshake between Russian, Belarusian, and Ukrainian players. I don’t know if it’s maybe not clear for people. Some people not really know what is happening. So I think this is the right way to do.”