US Open 2023: Maryna Zanevska snubs Aryna Sabalenka handshake, Nick Kyrgios leads condemnation of disablist on-court slur

A Ukraine-born tennis star says shaking hands with Aryna Sabalenka at the US Open would have been akin to “spitting in the face” of her family as she copped boos from the crowd for snubbing the Belarusian.

Ukraine-born Belgian player Maryna Zanevska brought the curtain down on her tennis career by snubbing a post-match handshake after losing to Belarus’s Aryna Sabalenka at the US Open on Tuesday.

Zanevska, who said before the tournament she would retire after her campaign in New York due to injury, bowed out after losing 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 country of her birth.

Several Ukrainian players have snubbed post-game handshakes with opponents from Russia or Belarus since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year. Belarus is a key military ally of Russia.

Zanevska said she had opted not to shake Sabalenka’s hand after accusing the Australian Open champion of not “stepping up” since the conflict began.

No handshake between Ukraine-born Zanevska and Sabalenka -- who looked surprised by that.

That's Maryna's last career match. Looked quite emotional in the end.

— José Morgado (@josemorgado) August 30, 2023

“I know I’m representing Belgium but all my family are in Ukraine,” Zanevska told 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. “It was not the best way of leaving the court because people were booing but I was ready for that,” she said.

“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 in the second round.

No hug or handshake between former Ukrainian (now Belgian) Maryna Zanevska and Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka and that's a pitty, as it is Zanevska's last pro match. Still, she enjoyed herself in this 6-3, 6-2 loss. 29 is young to retire but a chronic back issue made her to.

— Dewulf Filip (@FilipDewulf72) August 30, 2023

KYRGIOS SHOCKED BY ‘HORRIBLE’ US OPEN SLUR

The Sun

Furious Nick Kyrgios led the angry reaction to Alexander Bublik’s alleged disablist on-court slur.

Kazakhstani Bublik, 26, crashed out of the US Open first round in pathetic fashion to 2020 champion Dominic Thiem.

Alexander Bublik sparked fury by labelling Dominic Thiem as ‘disabled’.

The No25 seed lost 6-3 6-2 6-4 in just one hour 52 minutes on Grandstand court - including one service game where he dropped four double faults.

Nick Kyrgios has reacted to the alleged disablist attack at the US Open. Picture: Patrick Smith/Getty Images

He will receive £65,000 in prize money for his embarrassing efforts, which included smashing a racket against the court and claiming: “I don’t want to travel here anymore,” to his team as his first-round exit loomed.

However, there was one comment he reportedly made as he trailed 6-3 4-1 that sparked outrage.

As he prepared to receive at 30-0 and the camera was fixed on Thiem, Bublik is overheard making a comment in his native Russian by the microphones.

It is claimed the remark translates to: “I am f***ing sick of giving careers back to disabled people.”

Bublik’s latest defeat to Thiem comes after recent losses to veterans Stan Wawrinka and Gael Monfils.

All three tennis stars have had lengthy lay-offs due to injury and wins over controversial hot-head Bublik have helped on their road to recovery.

And Bublik’s vile remark was slammed on social media.

Injured Kyrgios, who is absent from the US Open but never far from criticism for his own behaviour, raged: “This is low key horrible.”

This is low key horrible 🫤 https://t.co/wqNWtUG1su

— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) August 28, 2023

Another viewer said: “Bublik says s***y things practically every other match. This is disgusting even by his standards though.”

A third 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 asked about the comment during his press conference.

Alexander Bublik has been accused of an ablist slur at the US Open. Picture: MATTHEW STOCKMAN / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

He said: “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 ability to be both sublime and ridiculous on court - but his apparent utterance against Thiem was clearly unacceptable.

Last year, he was blasted for playing an “idiotic” shot with the handle of his racket at a crucial point in a final.And in February, he obliterated three rackets one after the other in a spectacular meltdown.

Originally published as US Open 2023: Maryna Zanevska snubs Aryna Sabalenka handshake, Nick Kyrgios leads condemnation of disablist on-court slur