- Yelyzaveta Kotliar under fire for shaking hands post-match
- The 16-year-old said she shook opponent’s hand ‘mistakenly’
- Is now being investigated by her country’s tennis body
A Ukrainian teenage tennis star has found herself embroiled in controversy at the Australian Open because she shook hands with her Russian opponent after a match.
16-year-old Yelyzaveta Kotliar is being investigated by her own country over a handshake with Vlada Mincheva following their round-one match at Melbourne Park.
The Ukrainian star, who lost 2-6, 4-6 in 70 minutes, defied the unwritten rule other Ukrainian players have followed when taking on rivals from Russia or Belarus by acknowledging her opponent.
Since the Russia-Ukraine war began in 2022, many high profile players have opted against the handshake after matches to show solidarity with those involved in the conflict.
Kotilar’s father Konstantin explained afterwards that his daughter had made a mistake.
16-year-old Yelyzaveta Kotliar is being investigated by her own country over her post-match handshake with Russian Vlada Mincheva
‘The atmosphere here is extraordinary, which in itself puts a lot of pressure on the athletes,’ he said in a statement.
‘At the beginning of your career, it’s hard to cope with this and not be nervous. Unfortunately, my daughter didn’t feel calm, her emotions were running high, so she wasn’t completely in control of her behaviour.
‘She automatically performed the post-match ritual, not realising that behind the net there was a representative of the country who launched the attack on our homeland.
‘It was definitely a mistake that Liza regrets and assures us that she will never allow anything like that to happen again.’
Earlier in the tournament, Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko refused to shake hands with Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka after her third-round loss.
After the match the 34-year-old spoke to media about how tough it is for her to play Russian or Belarusian players.
‘It’s very hard for me,’ Tsurenko said.
‘I know where they’re from, this is another reminder for me and it’s painful.’
Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko (right) refused to shake hands with Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka (left) earlier in this year’s Australian Open
She added: ‘I feel like so many things that were so important for me are not important any more, like a tennis match.
‘I don’t feel like I really care about how I finish the match, what is the score. I care more about the fact I can be here and I can remind the world that the war is still on, I care about the fact that I can earn some money and I can donate and I can help other people.’