‘They should be embarrassed’: Ukraine’s Kostyuk calls out French Open crowd after boos

France 24 ^

[FarCenter]

Kostyuk, the world number 39, had warned she would not shake hands with Russian and Belarusian players due to the ongoing war in Ukraine – a stance she and other Ukrainian athletes have stuck to since Moscow’s forces invaded their country last year, with support from Belarus.

The 20-year-old from Kyiv duly avoided her opponent on Court Philippe Chatrier, the French Open’s showpiece arena, after losing 6-3 6-2 in a lopsided contest with world number two Aryna Sabalenka.

But she was taken aback by what followed.

A significant part of the crowd booed and whistled at her as she skipped the customary handshake at the net and walked straight to the umpire. The noise only got louder as she picked up her gear and walked off the court.

“I have to say, I didn’t expect it,” Kostyuk later said at a lengthy post-match press conference. “But I have no reaction to it. People should be honestly embarrassed, but this is not my call. I don’t know. I feel fine.”

A confused Sabalenka initially thought that the boos were aimed at her. She responded with a sarcastic bow, at first, before acknowledging the crowd and thanking them for their support. She later said her opponent did not deserve to leave the court in such a manner, suggesting that the crowd might not have been aware of the protests by Ukrainian athletes.

“We all know Ukrainian girls will not shake hands with us, so it’s kind of not a surprise for us,” Sabalenka said at her press conference. “But probably the public today was surprised. They saw it as disrespect to me as a player, so that’s why it was booing her.”

[mac_truck]

You left out Normandy ...

For a very good reason...

[aquila48]

Bottom line they did it.

And I don’t think we treat our AWOLs and runaways much better.

[dfwgator]

We executed one soldier for desertion.

[jpsb]

Napoleon took Moscow, Hitler didn’t.

[af_vet_1981]

Napoleon took Moscow ...

In 1812 Moscow wasn't worth the taking. It was abandoned, and then burned. Napoleon had no where to go and effectively lost his entire army, from which he never recovered.

[af_vet_1981]

For a very good reason...

You forgot.

[af_vet_1981]

If I lived in Texas or Arizona I might consider it.

I doubt that.

[mac_truck]

The graphic literally says ‘Since the end of the Second World War’.

Maybe if you learned how to read...

[af_vet_1981]

The graphic literally says ‘Since the end of the Second World War’.

In the "fine print" with an almost invisible font color ...

Why does it read (poorly) ‘Since the end of the Second World War’ ?

Do you understand how the Second World War started ?

[mac_truck]

Do you understand how the Second World War started ?

I'm gonna go with Nazi aggression but...

[af_vet_1981]

Half correct; German and Russian invasion of Poland; did you want the United States to sit that one out ?