Ukraine's Kostyuk refuses to shake hands with Azarenka of Belarus at U.S. Open

A Ukrainian player declined to shake hands with Victoria Azarenka after the three-time U.S. Open runner-up from Belarus beat her at Flushing Meadows on Thursday.

Belarus helped Russia launch its invasion of Ukraine in February, and Kostyuk said it had been on her mind since she saw the U.S. Open draw that she may have to play Azarenka in the second round.

"It's pretty personal," Kostyuk said. "It wasn't a personal match for me because it was Vika specifically, but overall it was not just a casual match that I play in a tournament."

Asked about the traditional handshake that follows a match, Kostyuk said: "I just don't think it's the right thing to do in the circumstances I'm in right now."

Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk refused to shake the hand of Victoria Azarenka of Belarus after her straight sets defeat at the US Open<a href="https://t.co/oDWQel5tkX">pic.twitter.com/oDWQel5tkX</a>

Azarenka said she had already faced that situation with a Ukrainian player when she played Dayana Yastremska last month in Washington.

"It is what it is. I just move on," Azarenka said. "I cannot force anybody to shake my hand. It's their decision."

Kostyuk said she texted Azarenka a day before the match to inform her there would be no handshake. Azarenka returned the text, telling Kostyuk she was no longer onsite, so Kostyuk dropped the subject because she wanted to deliver the message in person.

Azarenka said she reached out to all the Ukrainian players she has a relationship with in March after the invasion. Kostyuk isn't one of them, but Azarenka said she tried nevertheless.

"Well, I've offered many times through the WTA, because I believe that there is a sort of sensitivity. I've been told that that's not a good time," Azarenka said.

"If