PARIS: Aryna Sabalenka won a politically-charged French Open duel against Marta Kostyuk on Sunday as jeers and boos rained down on the defeated Ukrainian who refused to shake hands with her Belarusian opponent.

World number two and Australian Open champion Sabalenka swept 10 of the last 12 games to win 6-3, 6-2 as she kick-started her push to reach the second week in Paris for the first time.

Kostyuk honoured her pledge not to shake hands with Sabalenka in protest at Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Belarus is a key military ally of Moscow.

The 20-year-old Kostyuk, who has been a vociferous critic of the decision to allow Russian and Belarusian players to keep competing on tour since the invasion of her country, questioned the crowd’s motives in booing her stance.

“I want to see people react to it in 10 years when the war is over. I think they will not feel really nice about what they did,” she said.

“I didn’t expect it. People should be honestly embarrassed.”

Kostyuk, ranked at 39 in the world, famously refused to shake hands with Sabalenka’s Belarusian compatriot Victoria Azarenka at the US Open last year. She opted instead for a cursory touch of racquets at the net.

“It was a very tough match, tough emotionally. I didn’t know if the booing was against me but thank you so much for your support, it’s really important,” said Sabalenka who apologised for her exaggerated, theatrical bow to the Court Philippe Chatrier crowd.

Sabalenka had admitted on the eve of the tournament that she could accept if Kostyuk had feelings of “hate” towards her.

In the night’s other match, Greek eighth seed Maria Sakkari, a semi-finalist in 2021, fell at the first hurdle, losing 7-6 (7/5), 7-5 to Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic.

Muchova, the world number 43, had also defeated Sakkari in the second round last year and now has four successive wins over top 10 opponents at the Grand Slams.

France’s Alize Cornet was another veteran to lose on opening day, going down 6-3, 6-4 to Camila Giorgi of Italy.

Cornet was playing in her 19th Roland Garros and 65th consecutive Grand Slam.

In the men’s section, Greek fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas made the second round with a 7-5, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) win over 455th-ranked Czech player, Jiri Vesely. The Czech squandered four set points which would have forced a deciding set.Britain’s Dan Evans was the highest seed to fall in early action in the men’s draw, losing 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to Australian wild card Thanasi Kokkinakis.

“It’s shocking how I played today,” said Evans.

Portugal’s 80th-ranked Nuno Borges withstood 38 aces and 85 winners from John Isner to defeat the veteran American 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 7-6 (11/9), claiming victory on a sixth match point after four hours on court.

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2023