Ukrainian tennis participant Lyudmyla Kichenok defined her refusal to shake palms with French tennis participant Kristina Mladenovic on the Australian Open event, stating that after unintentionally hitting Mladenovic with the ball, the French participant made a threatening comment.

Supply: Kichenok in an unique interview with Champion, a sports activities information platform inside Ukrainska Pravda’s holding firm

Quote: "I've already reported this to the WTA [Women's Tennis Association] and hope you'll assist increase consciousness about it as effectively. Nonetheless, I don't suppose it's proper to shake palms with somebody who threatens me. After I unintentionally hit her with the ball and apologised repeatedly, she got here to the online and mentioned, ‘Be careful subsequent time’. I don't imagine it's essential to shake her hand after that. If she will be able to't deal with dropping correctly and resorts to threats, I believe that's unacceptable in our sport," Kichenok mentioned.

She additionally addressed the incident publicly on her Instagram.

Quote: "I wish to make clear the state of affairs that has occurred in my third spherical on the Australian Open match towards Kristina Mladenovic. [I was] publicly accused of dangerous sportsmanship. I wish to say my phrase. I obtained a really direct risk from my opponent in the course of the match after unintentionally hitting her with a tennis ball. The response to my quite a few apologies was: ‘You be careful subsequent time’. I don't contemplate acceptable the act of respect like shake of palms ultimately of the match with individuals who use verbal threats [sic]. Interval," Kichenok mentioned.

Background:

• Kichenok exited the Australian Open on the 1/8 closing stage of the doubles draw, dropping to the duo of Mladenovic/Shuai in a straight-set match.
• In the course of the conventional post-match handshake on the internet, Kichenok averted making contact with Mladenovic. Though the French tennis participant prolonged her hand, the Ukrainian ignored it, rapidly shaking palms with Zhang and leaving the courtroom.
• Mladenovic and Zhang Shuai reached the ultimate on the US Open final season, the place they have been defeated by Lyudmyla Kichenok and Latvia's Jeļena Ostapenko.
• Moreover, Ukrainian tennis participant Elina Svitolina ended her participation within the Australian Open singles draw final night time.

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