Elina Svitolina Explains Reasons Why she Would have Shook Hands With Elena Rybakina at Roland Garros Despite Russian Origins

Elina Svitolina has stopped shaking the hands of every Russian and Belarusian player since the war broke out in Ukraine.

Elina Svitolina Explains Reasons Why she Would have Shook Hands With Elena Rybakina at Roland Garros Despite Russian Origins

Elina Svitolina and Elena Rybakina (via Roland Garros)

Elina Svitolina explained why she would have shaken hands with Elena Rybakina if they had faced each other in the Roland Garros quarterfinals. The Ukrainian player has avoided handshakes with Russian and Belarusian opponents since the war in her country began.

However, Svitolina said she would have made an exception for Rybakina. She acknowledged that the Kazakh player switched her nationality, which would have made a handshake acceptable. But that meeting won’t happen, as Rybakina lost despite leading against Iga Swiatek. Svitolina said in her Roland Garros press conference:

She changed her nationality years ago, long before the war and invasion even began. Rybakina now represents Kazakhstan. For me, Daria Kasatkina is a great example: she changed her nationality (now Australian) and openly opposed the war. So, of course, we (Ukrainians) will shake her hand now, because she supports Ukraine, and we respect those who do. She not only changed her nationality, but she also spoke out in support of Ukraine.

Instead, Swiatek will now play against Svitolina in the quarterfinals. The Ukrainian saved three match points to defeat Jasmine Paolini, last year’s finalist, earlier on Sunday.

Swiatek has a 3-1 record against Svitolina. Svitolina’s only win came at Wimbledon in 2023. Swiatek, though, won their other three matches, including their clay meeting in Rome in 2021.

Elina Svitolina progresses to the Roland Garros quarterfinals

Ukrainian tennis star Elina Svitolina pulled off a dramatic comeback to defeat Jasmine Paolini in the fourth round at Roland Garros. The No. 13 seed was trailing 6-4, 4-1 and saved three match points before winning 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-1. The match lasted two hours and 24 minutes and ended Paolini’s nine-match win streak.

Elina Svitolina and Mirra Andreeva
Elina Svitolina was slammed by fans online (via X)

This was not the first time Svitolina had rallied to beat Paolini. Earlier this year, she came from a set down to win their Australian Open clash. In Paris, she came even closer to defeat but reversed the momentum again. It was her first win from match point down since overcoming Petra Kvitova in Stuttgart back in 2021.

Svitolina has shown consistent form on clay in 2025, with an 18-2 win-loss record. Her success includes a title run in Rouen. At Roland Garros, she has demonstrated grit, winning tight matches against Anna Bondar and Bernarda Pera in the earlier rounds.

She is now the second player this year to win from match point down at the French Open. Madison Keys also saved three match points earlier in the tournament in her victory over Sofia Kenin.

Elena Rybakina loses to Iga Swiatek in Roland Garros

Iga Swiatek had a rough start in her fourth-round match against Elena Rybakina at Roland Garros. The first eight games were far from her usual standard, as she committed 27 unforced errors and quickly fell behind 6-1, 2-0 on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

Elena Rybakina, Iga Swiatek
Elena Rybakina, Iga Swiatek (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

Despite the early setbacks, Swiatek was determined not to let her 24-match win streak in Paris end quietly. A missed smash by Rybakina on break point gave Swiatek a lifeline and shifted the momentum in her favor.

From that moment, the former World No. 1 began to find her rhythm. She fought back with more control and precision, taking the second set 6-3 and forcing a deciding set in front of a tense crowd. After a long and intense final set, Swiatek emerged as the winner. She closed out the match 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 in two hours and 30 minutes, marking her 25th consecutive victory at the French Open.

Also Read: Jim Courier Unconvinced About Carlos Alcaraz’s Performance After a Four-Set Nervy Win at Roland Garros