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‘That was very tough’: Aryna Sabalenka after beating Marta Kostyuk
Updated On: 29 May, 2023 09:16 AM IST | Paris | AFP
Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka reveals it wasn’t easy to win her first-round match against Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, given the booing from the crowd due to political situation between the two nations
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Aryna Sabalenka serves to Marta Kostyuk yesterday. Pics/Getty Images
Aryna Sabalenka won a politically-charged French Open duel against Marta Kostyuk on Sunday as jeers rained down on the defeated Ukrainian who refused to shake hands with her Belarusian opponent. World No. 2 and Australian Open champion Sabalenka swept 10 of the last 12 games to win 6-3, 6-2 as she kick-started her push to reach the second week in Paris for the first time. Kostyuk honoured her pledge not to shake hands with Sabalenka in protest at Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Belarus is a key military ally of Moscow. “It was a very tough match, tough emotionally. I didn’t know if the booing was against me, but thank you so much for your support, it’s really important,” said Sabalenka, who apologised for her exaggerated, theatrical bow to the Court Philippe Chatrier crowd. Kostyuk, 20, famously refused to shake hands with Sabalenka’s Belarusian compatriot and former World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka at the US Open last year.
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