Ukrainian Elina Svitolina: There was no handshake at the net after Marta Kostyuk and Mirra Andreeva completed their French Open semifinal on Thursday, a scene that has become increasingly familiar whenever the Ukrainian faces Russian opponents on the WTA Tour.
The absence of the customary post-match gesture had been anticipated well before the players stepped onto Court Philippe-Chatrier. Regardless of the result, Kostyuk was expected to maintain a position she has consistently upheld since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
Following the match, the players acknowledged the end of the contest without shaking hands, continuing a practice that has become a visible symbol of the broader geopolitical tensions that have filtered into professional tennis over the past four years.
