Wimbledon 2023: Victoria Azarenka loss to Elina Svitolina

Svitolina has not shaken hands with Russians or Belarusians after matches since the war in Ukraine started.

Since the start of the Russian invasion of their home country in February last year, Svitolina and other Ukrainian players have adopted a no-handshake policy with players from Russia and Belarus (who has provided military support to Moscow).

She has made her position clear many times but, after not meeting Azarenka at the net, it was the Belarusian who was jeered as she left Court One.

"What should I have done? Stayed and waited?" Azarenka asked reporters.

"She doesn't want to shake hands with Russian, Belarusian people. I respected her decision."

In front of a Wimbledon crowd giving her thunderous vocal support, wildcard Svitolina won a superb match 2-6 6-4 7-6 (11-9) to reach the quarter-finals.

But her progress through the tournament meant letting go of her tickets to see Harry Styles in Vienna on Saturday night. Styles is on the tail end of his European tour and Svitolina was hoping to see one of her favorite musicians while still had the chance, but she was a little bit busy preparing for her match against Azarenka. 

That preparation paid off. Svitolina had never beaten Azarenka before Sunday. She ended up turning the match around from a seemingly impossible situation, rallying from a set and a break down to beat the two-time major champion in a match-tiebreak.

Showing great feel in closing a backhand volley to get to 5-7, Svitolina was level again two points later after unloading on an inside-out forehand. With the scoreboard tied, she pulled out her biggest shot of the day—so we thought—a crosscourt backhand pass on the run that drew a booming roar and standing ovation.

It went from bad to worse for Svitolina who went down a break 2-0 in the second, but as she has done time and time again, it was some superb resolve.

Azarenka this time had to save break points as Svitolina brought it back to 4-4 but Svitolina held meaning Azarenka had to serve to stay in the set.

Serve she did not as Svitolina levelled the match up at 6-4 in the second and sent it to a deciding set.

It was time for Azarenka to get back on level terms coming from 3-0 down to level up.

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Sarah H

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