"Like other players from Ukraine, Svitolina does not shake hands with opponents from Russia or Moscow's ally Belarus because of the war. An announcement was made before the semifinal at Rod Laver Arena and a statement flashed up on a big screen saying there would be no handshake, asking fans to respect that. The two players also noticeably kept apart for the pre-match formalities and photos."
"Svitolina has been vocal about the strain of playing the two countries' players, and said she hoped to bring her nation light at the Australian Open after a tough winter. Sabalenka serves against Svitolina during their women's singles semifinal match in Melbourne on January 29, 2026 [Izhar Khan/AFP] The 27-year-old Sabalenka, however, crushed those hopes in a furious display of raw power."
Aryna Sabalenka defeated Elina Svitolina 6-2, 6-3 to advance to her fourth straight Australian Open final. Sabalenka will attempt to win a third Melbourne Park title in four years and a fifth Grand Slam overall against the winner of the Pegula–Rybakina semifinal. Political tensions influenced the match after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine led to bans on Russian and Belarusian players representing their countries at Grand Slams and tour events. Svitolina declined to shake hands with opponents from Russia or Belarus, a decision acknowledged by a pre-match announcement, and the players kept apart for formalities.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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