Ukrainian Pro Declines Handshake Despite Rival’s Nationality Switch From Russia

Remember the Australian Open moment when boos rained down on Mirra Andreeva as she rushed off court after losing to Elina Svitolina? That flashpoint now defines a deeper fracture in tennis, where the handshake, once a quiet symbol of respect, has become a line drawn amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. The divide resurfaced in the Charleston Open as Oleksandra Oliynykova refused acknowledgment against Russian-born Uzbekistan Polina Kudermetova, proving the conflict still echoes across courts.

Polina Kudermetova produced a strong comeback to defeat Oleksandra Oliynykova at the Charleston Open opening round. The qualifier won the match 3-6, 7-6(1), 6-4 after a tough battle. As the match ended, a message appeared on the scoreboards at the Althea Gibson Club Court.

“The players will not shake hands at the conclusion of this match. We appreciate your respect for both athletes after the match.”

Kudermetova was already aware of Oliynykova’s stance before the match ended. She did not approach the net to attempt a handshake. Instead, both players followed a different routine. They walked separately to shake hands with the umpire and then returned to their benches to pack their belongings.

After being two points from defeat, Polina Kudermetova moves past Oleksandra Oliynykova 3-6, 7-6, 6-4 in Charleston.

An on-screen message informed fans there’d be no handshake. Kudermetova changed her citizenship from Russia to Uzbekistan late last year. pic.twitter.com/xnErWBXbxe

— Christian’s Court (@christianscourt) March 31, 2026

And to be honest, Oliynykova has taken this position before in her career. She has consistently refused to shake hands with Russian and Belarusian players. This stance also applies to players who have changed their nationality. Kudermetova, who was born in Russia, recently switched to represent Uzbekistan during the off-season.

The World No. 71 had already faced a similar situation earlier. When the two players met at a WTA 125 event in Turkey a few weeks ago, they also did not shake hands.

The same situation repeated in Charleston. Knowing this in advance, tournament organisers informed the spectators about the decision. In February, Oliynykova also refused to shake hands with Anna Bondar. This decision was linked to Bondar’s participation in the North Palmyra Trophies event.

That exhibition tournament was backed by Gazprom and held in Russia. It took place despite international sanctions and restrictions. Oliynykova also chose not to pose for a photo with Bondar at the net during their match in Cluj. She later explained her reasons clearly.

“Anna Bondar participated in the North Palmyra Trophies tournament in December 2022 – an event held in Russia in open disregard of international sanctions and restrictions imposed on the aggressor state.”

Later quoted, “This is about humanity, human dignity, and basic human values. I cannot ignore this. The global tennis community should not ignore it. Fans should not forget about it. That is why I cannot bring myself to take photos or shake hands with a person who has received money from sources directly linked to the war against my country.”

Meanwhile, Kudermetova’s nationality switch created tension within her own family. Her older sister, Veronika Kudermetova, openly disagreed with the decision. The former World No. 9 shared her thoughts in an interview. “Frankly, it’s a bit of a sore subject for me.”

She added further criticism of the move. “I don’t approve of her choice; she didn’t consult with anyone; it’s her personal choice. I believe her motivation for changing her athletic citizenship is both financial and a desire to qualify for the Olympics. After all, as a Russian athlete, it was difficult for her to achieve high rankings. But as part of Uzbekistan, she’ll be third or even second in the rankings.”

Despite the off-court discussions, Kudermetova delivered a strong performance. She was serving to stay in the match at 4-5 in the second set and came within two points of defeat.

She managed to turn the match around and complete the comeback. It was an important win for the Uzbek qualifier. Kudermetova will now face Leylah Fernandez, the No. 9 seed, for a place in the last 16.

As for Oliynykova, she continues to stand firm on her position.

Oleksandra Oliynykova calls for a ban on Russian and Belarusian players from tennis

Oleksandra Oliynykova made her Grand Slam debut at the Australian Open this year. She faced Madison Keys in a challenging first-round match. Oliynykova pushed the defending champion early in the contest. She took the first set to a tight tiebreak before losing 7-6(6), 6-1.

After the match, she made a strong statement during her press conference. She wore a t-shirt that read: “I need your help to protect Ukrainian women and children, but I can’t talk about it here.”

Oliynykova comes from Kyiv and shared a personal update. She revealed that there had been an explosion near her home, which left her apartment “shaking”. Players are not allowed to make political statements at tournament venues. Because of this, she addressed the media carefully.

“I would like to share the way people can help Ukrainians, but we will need – if you want to ask me about this, we will need to do it outside of the tournament press. It’s very important part,” she told reporters.

Later, she expanded on her views in an interview with The Age. She openly stated that Russian and Belarusian players should not be allowed to compete.

“It’s very wrong that they are not disqualified in tennis like in other sports. I know that here is the picture that we are all tennis girls playing, but the people don’t see the things behind it,” she said.

The World No. 71 also spoke about Aryna Sabalenka. She referred to claims that Sabalenka signed a letter supporting Belarusian president Aleksandr Lukashenko in 2020.

Two years later, Lukashenko and the Belarusian military supported Vladimir Putin and Russia during the invasion of Ukraine. This context has shaped Oliynykova’s strong stance.

Now, the handshake issue continues to draw attention across tennis events. With tensions rising to the point where officials must intervene, questions remain about when normal post-match gestures will return.

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