‘It’s the right thing’

There was no handshake between Elina Svitolina and Victoria Azarenka after their match at the Citi Open in Washington DC, but this time there were no boos.

Ukraine’s Svitolina has declined to do so with players from Russia and Belarus since the invasion of her homeland.

Svitolina, who returned to the tour in April following the birth of her first child, again got the better of Azarenka in Washington DC, winning 7-6(2) 6-4.

But this time there was not a negative reaction after the Citi Open scoreboard displayed a message before and during the match.

“At the conclusion of the match there will be no handshake between the players,” read a message on the screen.

“We appreciate your respect for both athletes during and following the match, and for your understanding during these difficult circumstances.”

“I asked for the WTA [Women’s Tennis Association] to respect the decision of Ukrainians and they did.”

Azarenka, who was playing on her 34th birthday, said the warning to fans had arrived “18 months too late”.

“We just move on. We play a tennis match. As I said in Wimbledon, I accept, respect somebody’s position. That’s it.”

The match itself saw 17 breaks of serve.

Svitolina got out to a 3-0 lead before losing five games in a row. She hit back with two breaks but was then broken to love as she tried to serve out the set.

Svitolina got it done in the tie-breaker and sealed the win as she broke Azarenka’s serve in the 10th game of the second set.

Azarenka gave Svitolina a thumbs-up as she walked to her chair.

“It was really up and down,” said Svitolina.

“Just have to try to focus every point, try to find your game again. Just try again and try again to come back into the match.”

This was Svitolina’s first hard-court match since March 2022.

“I just want to give it all now [in] these years that I have left,” she added.

“I have this motivation to go for more and just give it all.”

Svitolina’s husband Gael Monfils also won in Washington DC as he beat Bjorn Fratangelo 6-3 6-4 in the first round.

It was only Monfils’ second tour-level win of the season and afterwards he had a post-match congratulatory kiss with Svitolina in the tunnel.

“It’s great to be back in Washington. I love the support here. I started strong and it’s another good match under my belt,” said Monfils.

“It’s a good night for both of us and hopefully we can keep it going this week.”

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