(Video) Elina Svitolina sparks controversy after refusing to shake hands with Armenia’s Elina Avanesyan

Elina Svitolina refused to shake hands with Russian-born Armenian player Elina Avanesyan after her straight-set win at the Monterrey Open.

(Video) Elina Svitolina sparks controversy after refusing to shake hands with Armenia’s Elina Avanesyan

Elina Svitolina (Image via X)

Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina refused to shake hands with Elina Avanesyan after her win in the fourth round of the Monterrey Open. Svitolina has made it clear that no matter what, she would not shake hands with Russian and Belarusian players amidst the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. 

The latest handshaking incident sparked controversy. Avanesyan was born in Russia, however, she applied for a change of nationality in June this year. She finally became an Armenian citizen in August. 

YouTube video

Despite her being an Armenian, when Svitolina after her 6-4, 6-3 win, shook hands with the chair umpire but not with Avanesyan, several fans on X started criticizing the Ukrainian. They pointed out to Avanesyan’s nationality with a few believing that instead of the players, the Russian government is to be blamed for waging the war in February 2022. 

FS Video

Watch the video here:

Svitolina, in an interview, said the no-handshake incident started after the Ukrainian government during a meeting with the Russian government was against shaking hands because both parties did not share the “same values.” Not just Svitolona, several other Ukranian players opted to not do the customary handshake with the Russian and Belarusian players. 

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Elina Svitolina broke down in tears following Russian missile attack on a children’s hospital

Elina Svitolina played her fourth-round match against Xinyu Wang with a black ribbon on her white top at the Wimbledon this year. After her 6-2, 6-1 win, Svitolina broke down in tears while speaking about a Russian missile landing on a children’s hospital in Kyiv.

Elina Svitolina
Elina Svitolina (Images via X) 
But today was one of the days where it was even more difficult because the missile landed on the hospital, the kids' hospital. Straightaway you see the images and everything that happened there. So many kids lost their lives. Yeah, it's extremely tough day today.
Elina Svitolina said 

Svitolina reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon but was defeated by Elena Rybakina in straight sets. The 29-year-old, at the Monterrey Open, will face Linda Noskova in the quarterfinals. They have clashed before just once in the fourth round of the 2024 Australian Open. Svitolina, after three games in the first set, gave a walkover to Noskova. 

Monterrey Open is also her third tournament on the North American hard-court. She previously played at the Canadian Open and the Cincinnati Open, reaching the third and fourth rounds respectively.

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