EXCLUSIVE
Victoria Azarenka ‘incredibly upset’ by boos at Wimbledon as Simon Jordan slams All England Club after Elina Svitolina handshake drama
Victoria Azarenka feels 'let down' by Wimbledon after being booed off but understands Ukrainian athletes' stance.
That's according to talkSPORT's Simon Jordan, who recently spoke to the Belarusian tennis star about the ongoing impact the war in Ukraine is having on her career.
7
7
The 33-year-old - who is not allowed to represent her country at the competition due to the war - went up against Ukrainian Elina Svitolina on Court One on Sunday at the All England Club.
In turned out to be one of the tournament's most competitive matches so far, with wildcard Svitolina eventually winning 2-6 6-4 7-6 and sealing a spot in the quarter-finals.
But, despite the entertaining contest, what happened after the match has stolen headlines.
As Svitolina secured victory, instead of shaking hands, Azarenka gave a respectful wave of her hand at the Ukrainian who did not respond.
MORE ON WIMBLEDON
The Belarusian was subsequently booed by some fans as she exited the court.
After the match, the Azarenka told reporters she respected her opponent's decision, with Svitolina previously vowing not to shake hands with Russian or Belarusian players.
But despite her measured interview, Jordan - who has a friendship with the Azarenka - says the tennis star is 'upset' by the incident and also feels that Wimbledon have let her down.
"She did [know Svitolina wouldn't shake hands] and I did a podcast with Victoria a couple of weeks ago that's coming out this week," Jordan told talkSPORT.
Most read in Sport
7
7
"She'll talk in detail about her expectations of Wimbledon and the challenges that she's had as an athlete. She knows full well the background, she's a very respectful woman and very decent lady and I know she's quite upset with the experience she had.
"I think she feels let down by Wimbledon because I think it was probably advisable of Wimbledon to advise fans that at the request of the Ukrainian players, they didn't want to shake the hands of Russian and Belarusian players."
Jordan believes the reaction shown by the Wimbledon crowd was 'ridiculous', too, given Azarenka's approached on the war on Ukraine, even when she was banned from the competition this time last year.
"The fact that Victoria hasn't lived in Belarus for 20 years, she lives in America, she has no particular affinity to that country besides the fact it's on her passport," he said.
7
"She, a year ago, 18 months ago when she was banned from Wimbledon, came up with the idea of saying to the All England Club 'why don't we if we play why don't we donate the entire winning or the entire proceeds of our tournament fees to Ukraine war fund.
"She's very conversant to the whole situation, she's got Ukrainian relatives in her family and she understands the position these other athletes have taken.
"She watched it in the French Open where it manifested itself and the fans reacted very differently and what we saw was a remarkable tennis match between two athletes playing at their highest level.
"Elina Svitolina operated at a level she probably hasn't operated at for some time and she won a remarkable game and Victoria went up to the net.
7
"She knew she wouldn't want to shake her hand, I'm not entirely sure what she could've done. I sat and watched it and I'm thinking 'what a ridiculous reaction from the fans.
"The fact that Wimbledon didn't come out afterwards and clarify it, they could've clarified it before the game because it takes the pressure off valued competitors."
Svitolina was also booed in the French Open when she refused to shake after similar incidences with Anna Blinkova, Daria Kasatkina and Aryna Sabalenka.
Now, the star has called on Wimbledon and other tennis organisation to come out and clarify there will be no handshake between Russian/Belarusian and Ukrainian players.
7
But so far, Jordan says Azarenka hasn't heard anything from the All England Club.
"They've given her no reaction," he said. "She sounds very strong in her interview, but the whole interview was about the handshake and not the tennis match.
"She is a very, very, very, very decent human being. I'm not just saying that because I'm fond of her. I'm saying it because I've spent time around sports stars and she's one of the best people I've met.
"She loathed the war. She's spoken out against the war. She never asked for a Belarusian flag above her name.
"She understands the dynamic and even accepts the parameters of not being able to play in tennis tournaments where the country is represented because she understands that dynamic.
"The only relationship she has with Belarus is a immutable relationship which is her passport.
"It's the media that have made this into a propaganda, political war and I think it's sad she walks off a tennis court after a remarkable tennis match and gets booed."
After partly blaming both Wimbledon and the media for the treatment Azarenka received, he continued: "I know genuinely that's she's incredibly upset.
Read More on talkSPORT
"Incredibly upset that's the legacy she walks away from Wimbledon with, which is a bunch of drunk people booing."
Svitolina will now face Polish star Iga Swiatek in the quarter-finals, with her one round away from equalling her best run at the competition, the semi-finals in 2019.
Topics