Lyudmyla Kichenok is addressing the backlash she faced after refusing to shake hands with Kristina Mladenovic following their match at the Australian Open. Kichenok claims that Mladenovic threatened her on the court, which she says prompted her decision to forgo the traditional post-match handshake. The former world No. 10 expressed her frustration during an on-court interview, where she accused Kichenok of poor sportsmanship, stating that the incident only fueled her motivation to compete.
The controversy has sparked criticism on social media, with many fans perceiving Kichenok’s actions as disrespectful. In response to the backlash, Kichenok took to Instagram to clarify her side of the story. She explained that during the match, she unintentionally hit Mladenovic with a tennis ball and offered her apologies. However, she alleges that Mladenovic’s response was a direct threat: “You watch out next time,” which Kichenok found unacceptable.
In her Instagram Story, Kichenok emphasized her stance on sportsmanship, stating, “I don’t consider appropriate the act of respect like shake of hands in the end of the match with people who use verbal threats. Period.” She also tagged the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), the Australian Open, and World Wide of Sports in her post, highlighting the seriousness of her claims and seeking a broader conversation about respect and conduct in the sport.
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