Ukrainian player Koschik praised Kasakinna s courage, Rome makes an exception to shake hands after the match

After defeating Russian-Australian player Kasakinna at the Italian Open, Ukrainian tennis player Koschik publicly praised the other party for showing courage to change nationality and shaking hands with him rarely. Kasakinna changed her hometown of Australia in April this year.

Ukrainian players have long refused to shake hands with Russian and Belarusian players. Koschiuk previously emphasized that this move is a personal statement to Russia. But after winning 6-4, 6-2 to advance to the third round of the Rome, she took the initiative to go to the front of the net to shake hands with Casarkina.

"It is always pleasant to shake hands with people I respect." Koschiuk, 21, said after the game that she believes that it is necessary to publicly recognize Kasakinna's actions and look forward to the other party's continued reaction after gaining freedom of speech. Before the game, she wrote on social media: "It takes great courage for Kasakinna to give up her status as a Russian athlete. I agree with this and hope that this is not the end but the beginning of a deeper commitment."

The Italian Open is the third round of Kasakinna's Australian nationality. She ranked 15th in the world and has not returned to Russia for two and a half years, and has been transferred to Dubai. The 28-year-old told the media last month: "I have no choice to consider what happened in my motherland. As a public come out, if I want to be myself, I have to take this step - and I did it."

22-year-old Koschik was booed by the audience for refusing to shake hands with Belarusian player Sabalenka at the French Open in 2023. Afterwards, she bluntly said that everyone should be ashamed of this reaction. She once again emphasized: "Some people say that sports should stay away from politics, but it has nothing to do with politics - it's human nature. As an athlete, I believe in fair competition and respect. But if these principles are limited to the stadium, it will be meaningless." In early 2023, after Koschiuk won his first WTA championship in his career in Texas, he also refused to shake hands with his then Russian rival Gracheva. The latter has now been transferred to France.