the addict wrote:

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I suspect the uninformed crowd didnt realise that Svitolina wasnt going to shake hands, so when Azarenka (who knew this) didn't even approach the net or offer a handshale they didn't approve. The crowd seemed to be largely behind Svitolona anyway (although I had the sound muted most of the time).

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 Yeah thats what I suspect but I thought the crowd might be a bit savvy to this by now. Vika did wave to Elina after shaking the umpires hand I guess most people missed that

The Roland Garros crowd were particularly not with it.

They booed Daria Kasatkina who, appreciating the situation as she seems to have more than most generally, didn't approach the net, walked to the side but did acknowledge Svitolina with a thumbs up ( so similar to Azarenka ) after losing their L16 match.

Then in the QF Sabakenka after winning did go to the net and waited there, giving the impression of being confused, while Svitolina, as most folk expected and surely so should Sabalenka have, didn't go near the net. Then many booed Svitolina.

-- Edited by indiana on Sunday 9th of July 2023 08:34:01 PM

Coup Droit wrote:

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Intersting (to me) that in the last 16, there is only one player from Western Europe

(Using 'old school' East and West Europe divides)

Bencic is the only one

THere are 2 Americans, 11 players from East Europe, 1 from North Africa, 1 from Brazil and 1 from West Europe

None from Asia, or Australia.

Of the 11, four wouldn't have been here last year (2 x Belorussia, 2 x Russia).

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 For a country that has produced 2 Wimbledon champions in the Open era Australia only has one woman in the top 100 and that is the injured Tomljanovic. China had 9 players in the main draw but none of them made any impact. If Hibino hadn't been a lucky loser Japan would not have had any players in the main draw.

GAMEOVER wrote:

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Coup Droit wrote:

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Intersting (to me) that in the last 16, there is only one player from Western Europe

(Using 'old school' East and West Europe divides)

Bencic is the only one

THere are 2 Americans, 11 players from East Europe, 1 from North Africa, 1 from Brazil and 1 from West Europe

None from Asia, or Australia.

Of the 11, four wouldn't have been here last year (2 x Belorussia, 2 x Russia).

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 For a country that has produced 2 Wimbledon champions in the Open era Australia only has one woman in the top 100 and that is the injured Tomljanovic. China had 9 players in the main draw but none of them made any impact. If Hibino hadn't been a lucky loser Japan would not have had any players in the main draw.

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 Yes, exactly, it's interesting how it breaks down

Coup Droit wrote:

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GAMEOVER wrote:

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Coup Droit wrote:

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Intersting (to me) that in the last 16, there is only one player from Western Europe

(Using 'old school' East and West Europe divides)

Bencic is the only one

THere are 2 Americans, 11 players from East Europe, 1 from North Africa, 1 from Brazil and 1 from West Europe

None from Asia, or Australia.

Of the 11, four wouldn't have been here last year (2 x Belorussia, 2 x Russia).

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 For a country that has produced 2 Wimbledon champions in the Open era Australia only has one woman in the top 100 and that is the injured Tomljanovic. China had 9 players in the main draw but none of them made any impact. If Hibino hadn't been a lucky loser Japan would not have had any players in the main draw.

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 Yes, exactly, it's interesting how it breaks down

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 To correct myself Australia has had 3 Wimbledon champions in the Open era (Court,Goolagong, Barty) but Court appeared long before the start of the Open era. It is also 50 years ago in 1973  that 2 Australians contested the US Open final with Court beating Goolagong. The 1971 French (Goolagongv.Gourlay)and 1971 Wimbledon(Goolagongv. Court) finals were also both all  Australian finals. Perhaps it was a sign of things to come(Chrissie and Martina were missing)but in 1976 when Sue Barker won the French,  the runner up was Czech  and the 2 losing semi finalists were Rumanian.

markymc1983 wrote:

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the addict wrote:

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I suspect the uninformed crowd didnt realise that Svitolina wasnt going to shake hands, so when Azarenka (who knew this) didn't even approach the net or offer a handshale they didn't approve. The crowd seemed to be largely behind Svitolona anyway (although I had the sound muted most of the time).

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 Yeah thats what I suspect but I thought the crowd might be a bit savvy to this by now. Vika did wave to Elina after shaking the umpires hand I guess most people missed that

-- Edited by markymc1983 on Sunday 9th of July 2023 08:11:30 PM

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 Svitolina makes a good point about the lack of clarity and stance by the tennis authorities: 

'I think the tennis organisations have to come out with a statement that there will be no handshake between Russian/Belarusian and Ukrainian players.

'I don't know if it's maybe unclear for people. I already said multiple times that until Russian troops are out of Ukraine and we take back our territories, I'm not going to shake hands."

She's right - an official statement might be a good idea (an individual Ukrainian player could always decide to shake hands anyway, if they particularly wanted to). But the umpire could even announce it at the start of the match: as a joint decision, between the two players, in keeping with the WTA's official statement (or whatever)  

markymc1983 wrote:

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Coup Droit wrote:

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markymc1983 wrote:

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the addict wrote:

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I suspect the uninformed crowd didnt realise that Svitolina wasnt going to shake hands, so when Azarenka (who knew this) didn't even approach the net or offer a handshale they didn't approve. The crowd seemed to be largely behind Svitolona anyway (although I had the sound muted most of the time).

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 Yeah thats what I suspect but I thought the crowd might be a bit savvy to this by now. Vika did wave to Elina after shaking the umpires hand I guess most people missed that

-- Edited by markymc1983 on Sunday 9th of July 2023 08:11:30 PM

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 Svitolina makes a good point about the lack of clarity and stance by the tennis authorities: 

'I think the tennis organisations have to come out with a statement that there will be no handshake between Russian/Belarusian and Ukrainian players.

'I don't know if it's maybe unclear for people. I already said multiple times that until Russian troops are out of Ukraine and we take back our territories, I'm not going to shake hands."

She's right - an official statement might be a good idea (an individual Ukrainian player could always decide to shake hands anyway, if they particularly wanted to). But the umpire could even announce it at the start of the match: as a joint decision, between the two players, in keeping with the WTA's official statement (or whatever)  

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Yes a clear statement prior to the matches would provide clarity. Svitolina and Azarenka played a great match it was a sour end with the booing (imo), however watching the French crowd boo Kasatkina who is effectively in exhile after coming out as gay and opposing the war was really hard to witness 

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 Yes, 100%

I did think thought that Vika raced off the court too quickly, it wasn't only the handshake

I understand that she was dreadfully disappointed to have lost

But it was such an epic match 

She could have stood there, and gestured to the crowd, pointed to Svitolina and clapped Svitolina, or smiled and clapped the crowd. Just perfunctorily racing off looked bad, after such a match.

And, fine, as said, she was disappointed. But so were the crowd that she raced off like that. You can't have it all your own way.