Aryna Sabalenka SHOCKED after Ukraine-born Maryna Zanevska refuses to shake hands owing to the war even in the last match of her career at US Open

This initiative by Zanevska ended with the crowd booing her.


Aryna Sabalenka SHOCKED after Ukraine-born Maryna Zanevska refuses to shake hands owing to the war even in the last match of her career at US Open

Aryna Sabalenka (L) and Maryna Zanevska (R) (Image via FMT)

Aryna Sabalenka was baffled following Ukraine-born Maryna Zanevska‘s refusal to shake hands on account of the war in their recent matchup at the US Open. This match between the two was Zanevska’s final match of her career. She had announced her retirement on account of a chronic issue that would not let her compete professionally.

Since Belarus, the home country of Sabalenka, is a key military ally of the Russians, Zanevska declined a handshake post-game. An even more shocking aspect of this is that it will be the Belgian’s final match. This initiative by Zanevska ended with the crowd booing her.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOZN1eUdXmI&pp=ygU6QXJ5bmEgU2FiYWxlbmthIFNIT0NLRUQgYWZ0ZXIgVWtyYWluZS1ib3JuIE1hcnluYSBaYW5ldnNrYQ%3D%3D

“I know I’m representing Belgium but all my family are in Ukraine,” said Zanevska in an interview with AFP. She also said that though she respected all of Sabalenka’s achievements in tennis, she still had to stand by her people. Shaking her hand would be the same as “Spitting in the face” of all her family fighting in the front lines. She also inculpated Sabalenka for not standing up against the atrocities. But she also acknowledged that the Belarussian was protecting her family just as Zanevska was protecting hers.

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Zanevska is also happy that she would be leaving tennis with her head held high, fighting for something she believed in. She lost to Sabalenka with a score of 3-6, 2-6.

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Aryna Sabalenka advances to the second round of the US Open

Aryna Sabalenka
Aryna Sabalenka (Image via ESPN)

Belarussian Aryna Sabalenka defeated Belgian Maryna Zanevska in the opening round at Flushing Meadows. She advances on a maiden US Open title campaign following a victory at the Australian Open and semi-final finishes at both the French Open and Wimbledon. Her highest finish at the US Open was last year with a semi-final finish.

With a controversial match against Zanevska, the Belarussian moves to the second round. The current World No. 2 is now set to face Briton Jodie Burrage at the second-round match. This match is set to take place on 31 August.

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