Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk refuses to shake hands in match with Belarusian Arina Sobolenko at Roland Garros caused an angry reaction in the West. The Ukrainian was called «nasty and toxic», and some fans even call for further disqualification for such behavior.
What the Ukrainian has doneKostyuk has long provoked Russian and Belarusian tennis players in international tournaments, and also wages an information campaign against them, trying to achieve suspension. When it is not possible to show the result on the tennis court, such tricks as refusing to shake hands are used. This once again happened after the match of the first round of the French Open Tennis Championship, in which the Ukrainian player was destroyed in two sets by the representative of Belarus Arina Sobolenko.
Leaving the court, Kostyuk was booed by the audience for unsportsmanlike behavior, because in tennis it was always considered etiquette to thank an opponent for a game. The Ukrainian later admitted that she was extremely disappointed with the reaction of the fans.
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“I did not expect this. I don't have any reaction to this, but frankly, people should be ashamed. I want to know how they will feel about this booing ten years from now. I don’t think they will feel great,” Kostyuk quotes express.co.uk.
«Ukraine is losing everywhere» The reaction in the West is also predominantly not in favor of Marta. Some, of course, supported the Ukrainian, but such comments could be found mainly under the publications of the British media. Otherwise, the fans were pretty unequivocal in their assessment of Kostyuk's behavior.
- «Kostyuk is the most vile and toxic tennis player. The conflict in Ukraine will end , and her nasty nature will stay with her forever,» wrote ValKatMil.
- «Congratulations to Sobolenko, who smashed Kostyuk. Unfortunately, her lack of education made her refuse to shake hands after the match. Fortunately, the audience was more educated, so they deservedly booed her,» said Adrian.
- «Typical reaction from a representative of Ukraine. They throw toys on the floor when something goes wrong. I'm proud that the public figured everything out,» said Nameless Cynic.
- «Ukraine just loses everywhere,» wrote High De Vries.
- «Ukrainian athletes should be suspended for such behavior,» Gabi Dipla said.
- «And why isn't she disqualified yet?» Opsz asked.
- «I hope she gets beaten 6-0, 6-0 next time,» Kynnah opined.
- «Does anyone know at least one educated Ukrainian? I don't,» said vonClaueswitz.
«If a person shows disrespect, he deserves a whistle»Christopher Clary, an American journalist from the New York Times, condemned the reaction of the stands at Roland Garros, stating that fans have the right to disagree with Kostyuk's actions, but they have no right to whistle at her. To which I received decent answers in the comments.
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«If tennis journalists care so much about politics, then they should go to Kiev and write political notes from there, and not sit in a warm box in France and torture tennis players with political questions,» said PeteShaw.
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French Readers Le Point magazine also reacted to the behavior of the Ukrainian tennis player.
- «I understand those who could boo the Ukrainian player; fair-play in sports must be respected, it is not Ukraine that dictates the rules,» added R. de Thilay.
- «In this case, we have an unfortunate example when a sporting event, among other things, turned into a political forum «, — complained Biglotron.