‘Drunken boos’ dismay Azarenka

Victoria Azarenka expressed her disappointment at being booed by the Wimbledon crowd after her loss to Elina Svitolina over Svitolina’s decision not to shake hands – despite Azarenka offering to do so.

The Ukrainian had said prior to the match, she would not shake hands with any player from Russia or Belarus.

And while Svitolina was met with cheers as she thanked the crowd after her win, Azarenka was booed.

The Belarusian former World No.1 said she respected Svitolina’s decision to not shake hands.

“What should I have done, stayed and waited? There’s nothing I could’ve done that would’ve been right so I just did what I thought was respectful towards her,” she said.

“I thought it was a great tennis match and if people are going to keep focusing only on handshakes or crowds, a quite drunk crowd booing in the end, then that’s a shame.”