Mahaz News
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Ukrainian tennis participant Marta Kostyuk refused to shake fingers along with her Russian opponent Varvara Gracheva after claiming victory within the last of the ATX Open in Austin, Texas, on Sunday.
Kostyuk defeated Gracheva 6-3 7-5, collapsing to the court docket after changing match level, earlier than refusing to shake fingers with the Russian.
The 20-year-old, who’s from Kyiv, stated at January’s Australian Open that she wouldn’t shake fingers with any Russian or Belarusian opponent with warfare raging in her nation.
She refused to shake fingers with Victoria Azarenka of Belarus on the US Open in September final 12 months. Belarus is getting used as a key staging floor for Russia’s warfare in Ukraine.
Kostyuk devoted her maiden WTA singles title to her native nation throughout the trophy presentation.
“Being in the position that I am in right now, it’s extremely special to win this title,” Kostyuk stated.
“And I want to dedicate this title to Ukraine and to all the people that are fighting and dying right now.”
Kostyuk didn’t acknowledge the crushed finalist in her acceptance speech.
The event win, the primary for a Ukrainian lady since Elina Svitolina in 2021, elevated Kostyuk to No. 40 within the WTA rankings.
Among the grand slams, solely Wimbledon has banned Russian and Belarusian gamers from competing, resulting in a $1 million superb by the lads’s tour.
Russian and Belarusian gamers had been allowed to play on the Australian Open this 12 months with out their flag or nation displayed.
Source web site: www.cnn.com
