Ukraine’s Kostyuk Booed by Roland Garros Crowd for Not Shaking Sabalenka’s Hand

• The Roland Garros crowd booed Marta Kostyuk following her first-round loss in the 2023 French Open
• The Ukrainian tennis star refused to shake hands with Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka after their match
• Kostyuk was disgusted with the way the crowd treated her as she departed Court Philippe-Chatrier

Controversy erupted on the first day of the 2023 French Open after the Roland Garros crowd booed Ukrainian tennis player, Marta Kostyuk following her first-round match.

Some fans inside Court Philippe-Chatrier jeered the 20-year-old after she refused to shake hands with Belarusian tennis star, Aryna Sabalenka.

The incident happened moments after Sabalenka recorded a 6-3, 6-2 win over Kostyuk.

Kostyuk walked straight over to the umpire to shake her hand, following her defeat. She then refused to do the customary handshake with Sabalenka at the net, instead opting to go directly back to her seat.

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That didn’t sit well with some fans, who hurled boos at Kostyuk as she exited the court.

Kostyuk's past handshake snubs

Kostyuk’s actions weren’t surprising, as she said at the Australian Open last January that she would not shake hands with any Belarusian or Russian opponent with war still raging in her home country of Ukraine.

She refused to shake Russian opponent, Varvara Gracheva’s hand after beating her in the ATX Open in Texas last March, per CNN.

Kostyuk also refused to shake hands with Belarusian player, Victoria Azarenka after losing to the former world No. 1 at last year’s US Open.

The Ukrainian blasted the treatment she received from the French crowd, telling reporters in a press conference:

“I have to say I didn’t expect it. I did not, but I have no reaction to it. People should be honestly embarrassed. I want to see people react to it in 10 years when the war is over. I think they will not feel really nice about what they did.”

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Sabalenka condemned the booing of Kostyuk in her press conference, saying she 'probably did not deserve to leave the court in that way'.

French Open men’s singles favorites

Sports Brief recently reported on the favorites to win the French Open on the men’s side of the tournament.

Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic were placed on the same half of the draw, setting up a potential blockbuster.

Daniil Medvedev emerged as another serious title contender after winning the Rome Masters earlier this month.