Elina Svitolina caused controversy when she refused to shake Elina Avanesyan’s hands. (Image: Getty)

Tennis tennis star Elina Svitolina is subject to harsh criticism after declining to meet with Elina Avanesyan in the Monterrey Open. The Ukrainian 29-year-old beat the Russian athlete in round 16 of the tournament on Thursday with straight sets (6-4 6-3).).

After her win, Svitolina rejected the customary handshake after the match, instead shaking hands with the umpire and then going back to the court and completely disdaining her opponent. Svitolina who is engaged to fellow tennis star Gael Monfils and Gael Monfils has been unable to greet Russian or Belarusian athletes after when the Ukraine war between Russia and Ukraine Russia War started in February 2022.

Furore about the denial of a handshake has been attributed to Avanesyan currently representing Armenia instead of the country where she was born with her antics not settling well with the tennis community who voiced their displeasure via social media. An X fan wrote “It’s just petulant because it achieves nothing except negative headlines.”

Another user added: “I sincerely urge you to change your perspective towards Russian gamers.. They are not at fault for Putin’s actions… If you are friends to the Russians… whom is to say they won’t influence Putin to end the war!

Another simply said: “Avanesyan isn’t even playing for Russia.” Svitolina has previously offered the reason for her actions by telling The Independent: “It started with the Ukrainian Government who attended meeting with the Russian Government.

“They are Ukraine were against shaking hands, because they do not share the same values as well as what the Russians do to us as a nation. We are Ukrainians who are united with the same goal: winning this conflict. We do everything that is needed. I am Ukrainian.

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She said: “I am standing for my country, doing anything possible to support men and women who are right now on the front line fighting for our land, our country. Can you imagine the guy or girl in the front line looking at me and I am acting like nothing is happening?”

Svitolina’s behavior was the subject of headlines when she did not shake hands with Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka who beat Aryna Sabalenka Ukrainian in the quarterfinals in the French Open. A two-time Grand Slam champion spoke out against the boos directed at her opponent, saying: “I think she didn’t deserve all these boos.”