Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk handshake snub headlines second-round clash

Olivia Gadecki’s second round opponent has implemented a handshake ban at the Aussie Open amid the pain of war in her homeland.

Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk hits a return against Amanda Anisimova of the US during their women's singles match on day one of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 16, 2023. (Photo by Paul CROCK / AFP)

As the war in Ukraine rages on, the international community continues to grapple with the reality of excluding one of the world’s largest countries from international sport.

As missiles continue to rain down on her homeland, Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk says she remains steadfast in her refusal to shake hands with Russian and Belarusian players, a stand which has continued for almost a year.

She will meet 20-year-old Queenslander Olivia Gadecki in the second round on Wednesday, who is competing in her Grand Slam debut after missing last year’s tournament owing to her vaccination status.

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In a coincidental twist of fate, Gadecki’s mother Natalia is herself Ukrainian, immigrating to Australia in 1993.

Olivia Gadecki’s mother Natalia, pictured left after Olivia’s first round victory at Melbourne Park, is Ukrainian. Picture: David Caird

After upsetting 28th seeded American Amanda Anisimova in her first round clash at Melbourne Park, Kostyuk said she would refuse to embrace any Russian or Belarusian players who had not explicitly condemned the invasion.

“I haven’t changed about the war and everything that’s going on, on tour”, she said.

“Because people who just say they don’t want war, it makes us (Ukrainians) sound like we want war.

“Obviously we don’t want the war, too.”

“Whoever speaks out clearly I believe has every right to be on tour but whoever doesn’t … I don’t think it’s just humane.”

Belarus has been a close ally of Russia during the invasion, allowing Russian military forces to perform weeks-long military drills on its territory, as well as stage part of the invasion of Ukraine from Belarus.

Marta Kostyuk (R) made headlines last year when she refused to shake hands with Belarusian Victoria Azarenka. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP)

The 20-year-old made headlines last year when she refused to shake hands with Belarusian former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka after their second round clash at the US Open, and calling for the WTA to ban Russian athletes from the Tour.

Azarenka was philosophical about it at the time, telling the press that she “cannot force anybody to shake (her) hand.”

Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam to ban Russian and Belarusian players from competing, which saw then-world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev barred from improving on his 2021 fourth-round finish at the All England Club.

At this year’s Australian Open, players from Russia and Belarus have been banned from competing under their respective flags, while fans have been banned from bringing flags on-site.

“Players from Russia and Belarus are only able to compete in international tennis events as individuals – and without flags or country recognition,” Tennis Australia said in a statement.

“Tennis Australia stands united with the international governing bodies of tennis – the grand slams, the ATP and WTA Tours and the ITF – in its condemnation of Russia’s actions and its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.”

Originally published as Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk handshake snub headlines second-round clash