Young Tennis Star Dayana Yastremska Reflects on Ukrainian Player’s Gesture at Australian Open
Ukrainian tennis sensation Dayana Yastremska shared her thoughts on the recent handshake incident involving her compatriot Yelyzaveta Kotliar at the Australian Open.
Kotliar, a 16-year-old player, shook hands with Russian opponent Vlada Mincheva during the junior girls’ singles competition, contrary to the customary practice of Ukrainian players avoiding handshakes with representatives from Russia and Belarus due to the ongoing war.
Yastremska, speaking after her quarterfinal victory in Melbourne, expressed understanding for Kotliar’s actions, attributing them to youth and inexperience.
She emphasized that it’s challenging for a young and less experienced player to handle the extraordinary atmosphere and pressure of significant competitions like grand slam tournaments.
The Ukrainian Tennis Federation acknowledged the incident as a mistake and shared a statement from Kotliar’s father, Kostiantyn.
He explained that his daughter, lacking experience in high-profile tournaments, succumbed to nervousness and high emotions, unintentionally shaking hands with a representative of a country involved in the conflict.
Yastremska stated, “I cannot judge her because I don’t know what was in her head. So did she [do] this on purpose or not on purpose, I don’t know.
But I’m sure that she stands by Ukraine, and I’m sure that she just got too emotional and confused.”
Kostiantyn Kotliar acknowledged the mistake, expressing that his daughter regrets the incident and ensuring it won’t happen again.
He highlighted her sincere patriotism for Ukraine, emphasizing that she will always remember and remain devoted to her homeland.
Meanwhile, Dayana Yastremska extended her remarkable run at the Australian Open by reaching the semifinals, defeating Linda Nosková 6-3 6-4. At 23, Yastremska made history as the first Australian Open qualifier since 1978 to reach the semifinals, reflecting on the significance of the achievement.
The tennis community continues to navigate geopolitical tensions, with Russian and Belarusian players competing as neutrals at various tournaments.
