Controversy at Wimbledon: Azarenka booed off court after losing to Svitolina

The Ukrainian conflict continues to leave episodes of tension in sport. Today Wimbledon made their feelings known during the match between Victoria Azarenka, Belarusian, and Elena Svitolina, Ukrainian. The latter has made it clear on more than one occasion that she intends to greet her rivals from Russia and Belarus as a protest to the open war in her country.

Knowing this, and after losing in the tie-break of the third set, Azarenka picked up her things and went straight to the tunnel, to which the London audience responded confused with a loud booing, although there was also a good part of the spectators applauding.

Perhaps they thought that Azarenka had declined the greeting and thus disrespected her opponent. The Belarusian tennis player gave a ‘hands tied’ gesture to the stands in response to the boos.