The war in Ukraine reaches Roland Garros
And it seems that the harangue has penetrated the six Ukrainian tennis players who are currently playing the French tournament. Marta Kostyuk was the first to stage it against the Russian Aryna Sabalenka, when she denied her a greeting after losing her first round match last Sunday (3-6, 2-6).
Let him say with whom he goes to war. I have never said that I hate her, but obviously I don't respect her,” she explained at the press conference after the confrontation with the number 2 in the world.
Kostyuk has already warned that he would not greet Sabalenka after their confrontation because he believes that she does not “express herself clearly” regarding her position in the conflict, which cost her boos from the French public.
Moment of no greeting between Kostyuk and Sabalenka. . TESSON EFE
Probably, denying the greeting is the majority position among Ukrainian tennis players when they face the Russians at Roland Garros, if at all. Anhelina Kalinina already did it in her confrontation in the Master 1000 in Rome against another Russian, Verónica Kudermetova. “We didn't shake hands because she's from Russia, basically. It's no secret why I didn't do it, it's because this country is attacking Ukraine.”
Of the six Ukrainian tennis players, perhaps Lesia Tsurenko is the most combative. The Ukrainian criticized the IOC and the WTA for their lukewarmness regarding the position to adopt with Russian athletes. “A year ago, Steve Simon told us that if a player showed support for the war, they would be expelled.. A year later, it is as if Steve Simon himself said: 'You can support the war'”, criticized the head of the WTA in a specialized medium.
The ATP and WTA did not ban Russian tennis players from tournaments as long as they did so without a flag. However, the women's organization did “strongly condemn the actions carried out by the Russian Government”, although it has always fought and pressured so that Soviet tennis players are not excluded from international tournaments. In fact, both associations threatened to sanction the All England Club if it maintained its ban on playing the Russians at Wimbledon this year.
disparate gestures
The tennis courts have been another scene of the Ukrainian conflict. In another Grand Slam tournament, the Australian Open, the Ukrainian Kateryna Kozlova witnessed a confrontation in the public when a fan displayed the Russian flag in front of Ukrainian fans. A gesture prohibited by the tournament management and which required the presence of the police in the stands.
But the gestures of the Ukrainian tennis players are not always combative, but are also supportive. Recently, also in France, the former number 3 in the world, Elina Svitolina announced, after winning the WTA Tournament in Strasbourg, that she would donate all the prize money to Ukrainian children.. Victory that he achieved, precisely, against the Russian Anna Blinkova. “Thank you very much for everything you do for us, and together we will see the light and win this war. Thank you so much. THANKS. Slava Ukraini”, said Svitolina at the end of the tournament.