Ukraine-born Belgian participant Maryna Zanevska introduced the curtain down on her tennis profession by snubbing a post-match handshake after shedding to Belarus’s Aryna Sabalenka on the US Open on Tuesday.
Zanevska, who stated earlier than the match she would retire after her marketing campaign in New York resulting from damage, bowed out after shedding 6-3, 6-2 to second seed Sabalenka.
Afterwards the Odessa-born 30-year-old declined to shake Sabalenka’s hand in a gesture of solidarity with the nation of her delivery.
Several Ukrainian gamers have snubbed post-game handshakes with opponents from Russia or Belarus since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine final yr. Belarus is a key army ally of Russia.
Zanevska stated she had opted to not shake Sabalenka’s hand after accusing the Australian Open champion of not “stepping up” because the battle started.
“I know I’m representing Belgium but all my family are in Ukraine,” Zanevska instructed AFP.
“I respect Aryna as a tennis player. She’s a great champion, hard worker, and I mean what she’s doing in tennis is amazing.
“But it’s my personal decision about not shaking the hand to someone who couldn’t step up. I don’t judge her. She’s protecting her family, but I’m protecting my family.
“I have family fighting on the frontline. And I think if I shake her hand it would be the same as spitting in the face of them.” Zanevska’s snub was greeted with scattered booing as she left the court docket. “It was not the best way of leaving the court because people were booing but I was ready for that,” she stated.
“But I’m leaving the tennis world with my head up and something I believe I did right.” Sabalenka, the reigning Australian Open champion, will face Britain’s Jodie Burrage within the second spherical.
KYRGIOS SHOCKED BY ‘HORRIBLE’ US OPEN SLUR
The Sun
Furious Nick Kyrgios led the indignant response to Alexander Bublik’s alleged disablist on-court slur.
Kazakhstani Bublik, 26, crashed out of the US Open first spherical in pathetic vogue to 2020 champion Dominic Thiem.
Alexander Bublik sparked fury by labelling Dominic Thiem as ‘disabled’.
The No25 seed misplaced 6-3 6-2 6-4 in only one hour 52 minutes on Grandstand court docket – together with one service recreation the place he dropped 4 double faults.
He will obtain £65,000 in prize cash for his embarrassing efforts, which included smashing a racket towards the court docket and claiming: “I don’t want to travel here anymore,” to his crew as his first-round exit loomed.
However, there was one remark he reportedly made as he trailed 6-3 4-1 that sparked outrage.
As he ready to obtain at 30-0 and the digital camera was mounted on Thiem, Bublik is overheard making a remark in his native Russian by the microphones.
It is claimed the comment interprets to: “I am f***ing sick of giving careers back to disabled people.”
Bublik’s newest defeat to Thiem comes after current losses to veterans Stan Wawrinka and Gael Monfils.
All three tennis stars have had prolonged lay-offs resulting from damage and wins over controversial hot-head Bublik have helped on their highway to restoration.
And Bublik’s vile comment was slammed on social media.
Injured Kyrgios, who’s absent from the US Open however by no means removed from criticism for his personal behaviour, raged: “This is low key horrible.”
Another viewer stated: “Bublik says s***y things practically every other match. This is disgusting even by his standards though.”
A 3rd added: “Tremendous lack of respect.”
And a fourth commented: “Pathetic behaviour from Bublik.”
Thiem – who landed his first Grand Slam win since January 2021 – was requested concerning the remark throughout his press convention.
He stated: “I don’t know if the translation is right. If it is, then it’s a tough saying. Something you shouldn’t say in general just out of respect.
“But maybe he didn’t mean it that way or whatever. But what can I say about it.”
Bublik has the flexibility to be each chic and ridiculous on court docket – however his obvious utterance towards Thiem was clearly unacceptable.
Last yr, he was blasted for enjoying an “idiotic” shot with the deal with of his racket at an important level in a last.And in February, he obliterated three rackets one after the opposite in a spectacular meltdown.
Originally revealed as US Open 2023: Maryna Zanevska snubs Aryna Sabalenka handshake, Nick Kyrgios leads condemnation of disablist on-court slur
Source: www.news.com.au
