Tennis-Kostyuk did not deserve jeers for refusing handshake, says Sabalenka


Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 28, 2023 Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk walks past Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka after losing her first round match REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

PARIS (Reuters) - Aryna Sabalenka said she understood Marta Kostyuk's decision to skip customary post-match handshakes with Russian and Belarusian players following Moscow's invasion of her country Ukraine but the player did not deserve jeers from the French Open crowd.

Booing and jeering could be heard from the thin Court Philippe Chatrier crowd as Kostyuk left the venue after a 6-3 6-2 loss to Belarusian world number two Sabalenka on Sunday.

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