Despite not receiving a customary handshake from Elina Svitolina, 17-year-old tennis sensation Mirra Andreeva remained undeterred and displayed an admirable show of respect for her opponent. This occurred during the aftermath of their intense showdown at the Indian Wells quarterfinals, which saw Andreeva, fresh from her career-defining victory in Dubai, triumph over the former world No. 3 with a score of 7-5, 6-3.
Svitolina’s refusal to shake hands with Andreeva was not an unexpected move. It has been a common practice among Ukrainian players to abstain from this traditional gesture of sportsmanship with their Russian and Belarusian counterparts for the last three years, due to well-known reasons. However, this did not deter the young Russian prodigy. As Svitolina exited the court, Andreeva was captured applauding her opponent, a gesture that was beautifully captured by an official WTA Tour photographer.
The Indian Wells match marked Andreeva’s 10th consecutive victory, a testament to her ever-growing prowess on the tennis court. When asked about the potential awkwardness of facing a Ukrainian opponent who might not want to shake hands post-match, Andreeva managed to maintain her focus. The rising star revealed that she had faced Ukrainian players four or five times in the past and had learned to concentrate solely on her game, regardless of external distractions.
Despite the lack of a handshake from Svitolina, Andreeva did not let herself be sidetracked. She candidly expressed, “Yeah, of course it’s not easy, but I have played maybe… I don’t know, four or five matches against Ukrainian players. And, I just try not to think about it. I just try to focus on my game, to do my routines, to prepare myself that it’s not going to be easy.”
Evidently, her determination paid off, as she emerged victorious in the match against Svitolina. With this victory under her belt, Andreeva is now all set to face off against Iga Swiatek for a coveted spot in the Indian Wells final. Her journey thus far has been an inspiring demonstration of sportsmanship, resilience, and focus, making her a force to be reckoned with in the world of professional tennis.
