Controversy at Australian Open as Ukrainian Player Shakes Hands with Russian Opponent

Yelyzaveta Kotliar's action described as a 'mistake' by the Ukrainian Tennis Federation, while fellow player Dayana Yastremska defends her as 'young and inexperienced.'

• 16-year-old Ukrainian tennis player Yelyzaveta Kotliar shook hands with Russian opponent Vlada Mincheva at the Australian Open, sparking controversy as it has been common practice for Ukrainian players not to shake hands with opponents from Russia and Belarus due to the ongoing war.
• Kotliar's action was described as a 'mistake' by the Ukrainian Tennis Federation, which supports its players' stance of not shaking hands with representatives from 'aggressor countries.'
• Kotliar's father, Kostiantyn, explained that his daughter was inexperienced and nervous, leading to her performing the post-match ritual on automatic, not realizing her opponent was from the country that had attacked their homeland.
• Dayana Yastremska, another Ukrainian tennis player, defended Kotliar, saying she was young and inexperienced, and that she could not judge her as she did not know what was in her head at the time.
• Yastremska made history at the Australian Open by becoming the first qualifier since 1978 to reach the semifinals of the tournament.

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