Ukrainian Kostyuk refuses to shake hands

Ukrainian star Marta Kostyuk has said she won’t shake hands with Russian or Belarusian players at the Australian Open if they refuse to denounce the invasion of her country.

Kostyuk, who refused to shake the hand of Belarusian Victoria Azarenka at the US Open last September, told reporters her position remains the same, revealing her family are still in Kiev.

“Because people who just say they don’t want war, it makes us (Ukraine) sound like we want war,” she said.

“Obviously, we don’t want the war, too.”

Her comments came after Tennis Australia banned supporters bringing Russian flags into Melbourne Park.

TA had initially permitted fans to bring Russian and Belarusian flags in, as long as they did not cause disruption.

But a protest from Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, after a Russian flag was displayed courtside during Andrey Rublev’s match with Dominic Thiem on day one of the event, changed that.