Ukrainian Teen Apologizes for Breaking Tennis Etiquette at Australian Open
Melbourne, Australia – Yelyzaveta Kotliar, a top Ukrainian junior tennis player, has issued an apology after facing criticism from her tennis federation for shaking hands with a Russian opponent at the Australian Open.
Kotliar faced scrutiny during the first round of the girls’ tournament when she congratulated Vlada Mincheva after being defeated. This action violated an unwritten rule among Ukrainian players, which discourages congratulating Russian and Belarusian opponents due to the ongoing conflict in their homeland.
The Ukraine Tennis Federation deemed the incident “unpleasant” and reiterated their stance that Ukrainian players should not shake hands with representatives from “aggressor countries”. They referred to Kotliar’s actions as a “mistake” and stated that the leading players in Ukraine are aware of this position.
In response, Kotliar’s father, Konstantin Kotliar, spoke on behalf of his daughter, highlighting her young age and lack of experience in major competitions like Grand Slam tournaments. He stated that she was not thinking clearly in a high-pressure situation and that she regrets her mistake, assuring that it will not happen again.
Fellow Ukrainian player Dayana Yastremska defended Kotliar when asked about the issue. Yastremska, who reached the women’s main draw semi-finals, acknowledged the Ukrainian stance but emphasized Kotliar’s youth and inexperience. She suggested that Kotliar’s actions may have been a result of getting emotional and confused, adding that she believes Kotliar supports Ukraine.
Earlier in the tournament, Ukrainian player Lesia Tsurenko, the 28th seed in the women’s main draw, explained that the handshake snub has become a form of protest against Russia. Tsurenko emphasized the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and asserted that refraining from shaking hands is the right thing to do as a show of solidarity.
The incident has sparked discussions regarding the intersection of sports and politics, as well as the impact on individual athletes who are caught in the midst of geopolitical tensions. As the tournament continues, it remains to be seen how these unwritten rules will influence future interactions between Ukrainian and Russian players on the tennis court.
