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Top-ranked women’s tennis player Aryna Sabalenka said she respected her opponent’s decision not to shake hands after their semi-final match at the Australian Open on Thursday, a decision she says most Ukrainian players have made “for so long.”
Sabalenka, who is Belarusian but is only allowed to play under a neutral flag at Grand Slams since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, defeated Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina 6-2, 6-3.
Aryna Sabalenka, right, goes past Elina Svitolina during their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Before the end of the match, a message on the big screen from the Australian Open organizers informed the crowd that the pair would not be shaking hands at the net after the conclusion.
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“At the end of the game, there will be no handshakes between the players. We appreciate your respect for both athletes during and after the game.”
After the match, Sabalenka was asked directly about Svitolina’s decision.
Elina Svitolina gestures during her semifinal match against Aryna Sabalenka at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
“I don’t focus on that and they’ve done it for so long. It’s their decision and I respect that and I have time right now to respect her and [in the] conversation in court.”
She continued: “I think she knows I respect her as a player, I know she respects me as a player – that’s all I care about [about.] But no handshake, that’s their decision. I respect that.”
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Svitolina spoke highly of Sabalenka’s performance during their semi-final match. She was not asked directly about the handshake, but said she chooses to remain optimistic despite such a crushing defeat due to the circumstances in her home country.
Elina Svitolina and Aryna Sabalenka shake hands after the match after the women’s semifinal match during Day 12 of the 2026 Australian Open at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia on January 29, 2026. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
“I feel like I shouldn’t be allowed to be really upset. I’m in a great position. First of all, not just from a personal perspective, I have this great opportunity to play center court here, to represent my country, to do it in a decent way, to have an opportunity to use my voice and just be there for my people.”
“When I wake up in the morning, of course I see scary news, but then I see people watching my fights, they write comments, and they are really – I think it’s a big exchange of positive emotions, so I can’t complain. The people really live a terrible and scary life in Ukraine, so I shouldn’t be allowed to be really sad because I’m a very, very lucky person.”
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Aryna Sabalenka celebrates a point in the women’s singles semifinal match against Elina Svitolina during Day 12 of the 2026 Australian Open at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia on January 29, 2026. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
With her win on Thursday, Sabalenka set up a rematch of her 2023 final against Elena Rybakina. She became the third woman in the Open era to reach four consecutive singles finals at the Australian Open.
