{"id":489079,"date":"2026-01-29T22:06:40","date_gmt":"2026-01-29T23:06:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=489079"},"modified":"2026-01-30T01:22:13","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T01:22:13","slug":"sabalenkas-message-for-rival-after-photo-snub-causes-stir","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=489079","title":{"rendered":"Sabalenka's message for rival after photo snub causes stir"},"content":{"rendered":"

World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka<\/a> paid tribute to her opponent Elina Svitolina<\/a> following their Australian Open<\/a> semi final despite two incidents that had tongues wagging on Thursday night.<\/p>\n

Ukraine veteran Svitolina is one of several tennis players who have refused to shake the hands of Russian or Belarusian players since the invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n

On Thursday night the pair avoided the traditional pre-match photo with a ball kid, instead taking separate photos.<\/p>\n

FOLLOW LIVE:<\/strong> 2026 Australian Open, day 13<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> Twist in US star's wild stripped Olympic medal saga<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

READ MORE:\ufeff<\/strong> Aussies suffer shock pre-World Cup loss in 'alien' conditions<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

At the end of the match – which Sabalenka won in straight sets<\/a> – they each walked straight to the chair umpire without acknowledging one another.<\/p>\n

Aussie tennis great Roger Rasheed had told ABC earlier in the day there was genuine dislike between Sabalenka and Svitolina.<\/p>\n

"Let's put all cards on the table, these two do not like each other. They genuinely don't like each other," Rasheed claimed.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

"\ufeffAnd it's not about what's going on (in Europe)… you throw that into the mix, it's argy bargy.<\/p>\n

"How that plays out will be interesting. They will not take photos… so that's new.\ufeff"<\/p>\n

Sabalenka, though, offered praise to her opponent which flies in the face of Rasheed's statement.<\/p>\n

She was asked in her post-match press conference about Svitolina's refusal to share a photo or a handshake.\ufeff<\/p>\n

\ufeff"I'm not focusing on that. They have been doing it for so long, so, like… it's their decision, and I respect that," Sabalenka told media.<\/p>\n

"I think she knows that I respect her as a player. I know that she respects me as a player. That's all I care (about).<\/p>\n

Watch the Australian Open live & free on the 9Network &<\/strong><\/em> 9Now<\/strong><\/em><\/a>.<\/strong><\/em> Stan Sport<\/strong><\/em><\/a> is the only place to watch every match, live & on demand with centre court in 4K.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"Sabalenka<\/p>\n

"About no handshake, it's their decision. I respect that.<\/p>\n

"About Elina, I felt like I didn't have opportunity to even say, great job. I have it now, so great job, great match, great player, amazing tournament. Yeah, she played incredible."<\/p>\n

Before the match began, a message appeared on the Rod Laver Arena big screen.<\/p>\n

"At the conclusion of the match, there will be no handshake between the players. We appreciate your support for both athletes during and following the match," it read.<\/p>\n

Svitolina has returned to the tour after becoming a mother, and will next week re-enter the WTA top 10 following her stunning Australian Open run.<\/p>\n

She used her post-match press conference to reiterate her support for Ukraine and its people.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

"I feel like I should not be allowed to be sad. I have this amazing opportunity to play on centre court here, represent my country, to do it in a decent way, and to have an opportunity to use my words and just be there for my people," she said.<\/p>\n

"I feel like for the past weeks, they have been really carrying me through with great emotions.<\/p>\n

"I cannot complain. People are living a horrible and terrifying life in Ukraine. I should not be allowed to really be sad, because I'm a very lucky person.<\/p>\n

"I was able to send little messages back to Ukraine. There is lots of people who are following the matches and supporting me.<\/p>\n

"I think this exchange of positivity is something that helps people. That's what I get the feedback from them, and for me is something unbelievable. It's important, because I also know when I go back to Ukraine, I see people are really stuck in the routine. You know, it's dark days, grey days with so much negativity.<\/p>\n

"So I think sports, in general, for Ukraine really unites us as a people and unites us with these great emotions. I think it's much needed for our country."<\/p>\n

Sabalenka will take on Elena Rybakina in the final<\/a> on Saturday.\ufeff<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka paid tribute to her opponent Elina Svitolina following their Australian Open semi final despite two incidents that had tongues wagging on […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":489082,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/489079"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=489079"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/489079\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":489092,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/489079\/revisions\/489092"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/489082"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=489079"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=489079"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=489079"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}