The post-match behavior of Ukrainian tennis players against Russian opponents has become a consistent and politically charged pattern since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. This scenario played out again at the **2024 Italian Open (Internazionali BNL d’Italia) in Rome** following a match involving a Ukrainian player and a Russian opponent.
**The Typical Behavior:**
1. **No Handshake:** The most visible and deliberate action is the **avoidance of the traditional net handshake**. The Ukrainian player typically packs their bag immediately after the final point, often without looking towards the net or their opponent, and walks straight off the court. This is a clear, non-verbal statement of protest.
2. **Minimal or No Acknowledgement:** There is usually **no eye contact, no verbal greeting, no racket tap, and no nod** of recognition directed at the Russian opponent. The interaction is reduced to zero.
3. **Swift Exit:** The focus is on a **quick and purposeful departure** from the court. The player doesn’t linger or engage in any post-match rituals that involve the opponent.
4. **Focus on Ukrainian Support:** Before exiting, the Ukrainian player often makes a point to **acknowledge and thank the crowd**, sometimes making a gesture like placing a hand on their heart, especially towards fans displaying Ukrainian flags or colors. This shifts the focus to national solidarity.
**Context and Reasoning (Why they behave this way):**
* **Protest Against the Invasion:** This behavior is a **conscious, collective stance** taken by almost all Ukrainian players. It’s a protest against Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine and the suffering it causes. Shaking hands is seen as a sign of sportsmanship and respect, which they feel is impossible to offer to a representative of a country waging war against their homeland, even if the individual player is not personally responsible.
* **Symbolic Rejection of “Normalization”:** By refusing the customary rituals, they reject any notion of “business as usual” or the separation of sports and politics in this context. They aim to keep the war and Russia’s aggression in the global sporting consciousness.
* **Representing their Nation:** Ukrainian athletes feel a profound responsibility to represent their country’s struggle on the international stage. Avoiding contact with Russian athletes is a powerful symbolic act of defiance and national solidarity for audiences worldwide.
* **Policy of the Ukrainian Tennis Federation:** The Ukrainian Tennis Federation has supported its players in taking this stance, understanding the emotional and political weight of these encounters.
**Reaction in Rome (and generally):**
* **Understanding (Mixed with Disappointment for Some):** Much of the tennis world understands the reasoning, even if some regret the absence of traditional sportsmanship. Crowds often applaud the Ukrainian player as they leave.
* **Controversy:** The act inevitably generates discussion and some controversy. Critics (including some players like Andrey Rublev) argue that the opponent is an individual athlete, not the state, and shouldn’t be snubbed. Russian players often stand awkwardly at the net, sometimes offering a half-hearted wave or nod that goes unreturned.
* **WTA Stance:** The WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) has essentially accepted this as a consequence of the war, recognizing the players’ right to their personal beliefs and the extraordinary circumstances. They avoid forcing interactions or punishing players for the no-handshake policy specifically related to the Ukraine conflict.
* **Russian Player Response:** Russian players involved are usually prepared for it. Their reactions vary from visible disappointment or frustration to stoic acceptance, understanding the political reality behind the snub. They typically walk to their chair after a brief, unreciprocated wait at the net.
**Specifics from Rome 2024:**
While the exact match isn’t specified in your query, this behavior was observed, for example, when **Marta Kostyuk** played **Veronika Kudermetova**. Kostyuk adhered strictly to the protocol: no glance, no handshake, a swift pack-up, acknowledgment of the crowd, and a direct exit. This mirrored her actions in previous encounters with Russian/Belarusian players and those of her compatriots like Elina Svitolina and Dayana Yastremska throughout the past two years.
**In Essence:**
The “behavior” is a **deliberate, unified, and silent protest**. It’s not spontaneous rudeness, but a calculated political statement performed on a global sporting stage. The Ukrainian player’s actions – the averted gaze, the packed bag, the swift walk past the net without stopping – are all carefully chosen symbols of refusal to engage in normalcy with representatives of the aggressor nation. It’s a poignant reminder, played out after every point won and lost in these specific matches, that the war continues, transcending the boundaries of the tennis court. Their focus remains on their nation’s fight for survival, not on post-match pleasantries.