Aryna Sabalenka displayed her sportsmanship and grace after Marta Kostyuk refused to shake hands following their fourth-round match at the 2025 Italian Open on May 13. The world No. 1 secured a hard-fought 6-1, 7-6(4) victory over the Ukrainian No. 20 seed, advancing to the quarter-finals against Zheng Qinwen. Kostyuk’s decision to skip the customary handshake, a practice common among Ukrainian players when facing Russian or Belarusian opponents due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, could have sparked tension. Instead, Sabalenka responded with a dignified gesture, offering a thumbs-up to Kostyuk as she left the court, a move that earned widespread praise for its composure.
Sabalenka’s action reflected her understanding of the geopolitical sensitivities involved. She had anticipated the snub, having faced similar situations, including Kostyuk’s handshake refusal at the 2023 French Open, where crowd booing followed. “I respect her stance, even if it’s tough in the moment,” Sabalenka said post-match, per Express.co.uk, emphasizing her focus on the game rather than personal slights. Her performance was dominant in the first set, with 12 winners and a 75% first-serve point win rate, though the second set required a tiebreak where she capitalized on Kostyuk’s 38 unforced errors, per WTA Stats.
The incident drew mixed reactions. Some fans on social media lauded Sabalenka’s maturity, with one user noting, “Aryna’s thumbs-up was pure class, rising above the drama.” Others criticized Kostyuk, calling her refusal “unsportsmanlike,” though supporters defended her, citing her consistent stance against players from Belarus and Russia, as seen in her 2024 Madrid Open snub of Sabalenka. Kostyuk’s perspective, rooted in her vocal opposition to Russia’s actions, was reiterated in her press conference: “It’s about the war, not personal.”
Sabalenka’s response aligns with her reputation for balancing fierce competitiveness with off-court warmth, as seen in her playful Italian Open moment tossing a ball over the net against Anastasia Potapova. Her ability to navigate the handshake controversy without escalating tensions highlights her growth as a leader in women’s tennis, maintaining focus on her title pursuit in Rome, where she aims to surpass her 2024 runner-up finish to Iga Swiatek.
