WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Victoria Azarenka said it "wasn't fair" that she was booed at Wimbledon after her loss to Ukrainian rival Elina Svitolina on Sunday.
Azarenka, who's from Belarus, had just lost a third-set tiebreaker and — knowing that Svitolina does not shake hands with Russian and Belarusian players after matches in protest of
Russia's invasion of Ukraine — walked directly to the umpire to shake hands.
The two-time Grand Slam champion also seemed to give a slight wave to Svitolina, who won 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (9).
But as she gathered her equipment and began walking off No. 1 Court — where the crowd had been rooting for Svitolina — boos rained down.
"I can't control the crowd. I'm not sure that a lot of people were understanding what's happening," Azarenka said, suggesting the crowd had been drinking. "It wasn't fair. It is what it is. What can I do?"