PARIS: Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska backed compatriot Marta Kostyuk, who was booed off the court by fans on Court Philippe Chatrier on Sunday, for not shaking Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka's hand, following their French Open opening-round match.
Yastremska, ranked 144, a qualifier who went down to Croatia's Donna Vekic 2-6, 5-7, said, "If we play against Russians and Belarusians, it doesn't matter which tournament, we're not going to shake hands."
The 23-year-old player added, "I actually didn't expect this reaction (from the fans). That wasn't really nice. When I played against the Russians, I also didn't shake the hand. That's our position and everybody knew about this. There's nothing surprising."
Yastremska stressed that she doesn't feel good taking the court against Russians and Belarusians. "How we can go on court and play against people (from) Russia, the terrorist country? It's difficult emotionally."
Comeback mom Elina Svitolina called for constructive conversations instead of all the 'empty words' and 'rubbish' being said on the situation.
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