>
The Ukrainian star REFUSES to shake hands with Russians and Belarusians at the Australian Open due to the invasion, as a fan has been seen breaking the new ban on flying the invaders’ flag.
- Marta Kostyuk refused to shake hands with Victoria Azarenka at the US Open
- The Ukrainian star’s stance will continue with the Russian and Belarusian players.
- It comes after complaints from a Ukrainian ambassador led to a ban on the flag.
- Tennis fans were divided as Russian and Belarusian athletes are forced to compete as independents and their flags are banned from Melbourne Park.
Ukrainian young star Marta Kostyuk has said she will not shake hands with Russian or Belarusian players at the Australian Open if they do not strongly enough oppose the invasion of their homeland.
He first took the stance last September when he refused to shake hands with Belarusian Victoria Azarenka at the US Open.
Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine in action against Amanda Anisimova of the United States in their first round match at the Australian Open
The 20-year-old has reached the third round of the Australian Open twice before and said her position will continue with her family at home in Kyiv.
“I haven’t changed about the war and everything that’s going on, on tour,” Kostyuk said at the Open.
‘Because people who simply say they don’t want war make us (Ukraine) sound like we want war.
“Obviously, we don’t want war either.”
Victoria Azarenka tried to greet Kostyuk at the US Open, but the Ukrainian star turned her down, only hitting tennis rackets instead of shaking her hand.
Outside of matches, Kostyuk said he hardly talks to the Russian and Belarusian players on tour.
“Whoever speaks up I think has every right to be on tour, but whoever doesn’t…I don’t think they’re just human,” he said.
‘I don’t really talk to anyone. I barely say ‘hi’ to them.
His stance comes as Tennis Australia’s (TA) crackdown on fans bringing Russian flags to Melbourne Park was flouted just after it was implemented.
Initially, TA had allowed viewers to bring Russian and Belarusian flags into Melbourne Park, as long as they did not cause disruption.
But that policy was reversed Tuesday morning after a Russian flag was prominently displayed on court during Baindl’s three-set win over Russia’s Kamilla Rakhimova on Monday, prompting social media condemnation of the Ukrainian Ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko.
Daniil Medvedev of Russia signs a banner for a fan after defeating Marcos Giron of the USA in their first round match at the Australian Open
“The flags of Russia and Belarus are banned from the Australian Open,” TA said in a statement.
“Our initial policy was that fans could bring them but they couldn’t use them to cause disruption.
‘Yesterday we had an incident where a flag was placed on the pitch. The ban will take effect immediately.
However, a Russian flag was seen in the stands during Andrey Rublev’s win over Dominic Thiem at John Cain Arena that day.
Spectators display a Russian flag during the first round singles match between Russia’s Andrey Rublev and Dominic Them, despite Tennis Australia banning the emblem earlier that day after a complaint from the Ukrainian ambassador.
The decision to ban the flags has received widespread condemnation from neutral tennis fans.
‘Very discriminatory to ban certain flags. Ban all or nothing,” posted one.
All flags should be banned and politics should have no place in sport. The players are not responsible for the actions of their governments,’ said another.
Others supported the measure.
“Now is not the time to show acceptance or respect for Russian symbols,” a fan posted.