Belarusian Victoria Azarenka booed and gives fist pump to fans after Wimbledon defeat

Belarusian Victoria Azarenka left Court One to a chorus of boos following a fourth-round defeat to Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina at Wimbledon.

The crowd had set the scene during the match as they were overwhelmingly behind Svitolina during the contest, and gave her a deafening cheer when she clinched a 2-6 6-4 7-6 (9) victory. 

As expected, there was no handshake at the net, though there was a nod of acknowledgment between the two players with Azarenka waiting at the net for Svitolina after the Ukrainian’s victory.

But Azarenka then received loud jeers from the Wimbedon crowd as she began to walk off, while Svitolina prepared for her television interview.

The reaction was enough to stop Azarenka, who gave a long, lingering stare towards the crowd before appearing to give a dismissive gesture towards them.

Victoria Azarenka was booed off by the Wimbledon crowd following her fourth round exit

Elina Svitolina and Azarenka failed to shake hands after the Ukrainian’s three set victory

Azarenka appeared to make a dismissive gesture in reaction towards jeers from the Wimbledon crowd, as she banged her fists together after staring towards the stands

She banged her fists together in apparent disgust at the reaction towards her, before she walked off the court.  

A handshake was not expected, with Svitolina not shaking hands of Russian or Belarusian athletes in recent times due to the invasion of her country,.

It was Svitolina who was booed at the French Open when she refused to shake the hand of Belarusian world No 2 Aryna Sabalenka.

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Svitolina was baffled by the reaction and accused her opponent of adding fuel to the fire by offering her hand at the net.

On the other hand, Russian player Daria Kasatkina – who has held a strong anti-Putin stance, simply offered a thumbs up which Svitolina admitted she respected. 

During the French Open, Svitolina explained she will not shake the hands of Russian and Belarusian opponents out of respect for Ukrainians fighting to defend their country. 

‘It started with the Ukrainian government that went to the meetings with the Russian government,’ Svitolina said last month.

‘They (Ukraine) were against shaking the hands because they’re not sharing the same values, obviously, and what the Russians are doing to our country.

Azarenka acknowledged Svitolina following her three set defeat on Sunday evening

Svitolina made it clear she won’t shake hands of Russian or Belarusian tennis players

‘We are Ukrainians, all united for one goal of winning this war. We do anything that is required.’

Svitolina only returned to the tour in April after the birth of her daughter in October.

After her victory over Azarenka she said: ‘After giving birth to our daughter, this is the second fabulous moment in my life.

‘It was a really tough match. When I was 0-2 down in the second set I heard you guys cheering for me and I almost wanted to cry. I was really struggling and I really wanted to win today. You guys gave me so much strength today.’

Svitolina also drew strength from thinking of the plight of her stricken homeland, saying: ‘I was thinking back home there are lots of people that are watching and cheering for me, I know how much it means for them.

‘Any moments that they can share of happiness. I was thinking there is tough times in Ukraine and I’m here playing in front of you guys. I cannot complain, I just have to fight. And here I am, I won the match.’

Svitolina in the next round will face World No 1 Iga Swiatek with a place in the semi finals on the line. 

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