the ukrainian Angelina Kalinawhich this Friday knocked out the Russian Veronika Kudermetova within WTA 1,000 in Rome and reached his first final in a tournament of this category, he did not shake hands with his opponent at the end of the match because of the war.
“We didn’t shake hands because she’s from Russia, basically. It’s no secret why I didn’t, it’s because this country attacks Ukraine,” he told a press conference after the victory.
“It’s sport, I understand, but it’s also kind of a political thing. So it’s not personal. But it’s generally unacceptable,” he added.
Kalinina, 26 years old and number 47 in the ranking, commented on the situation her family was in, forced to move to kyiv to be safe but a few days ago she witnessed the fall of a bomb.
“All my family is in Kiev now. A few days ago, where my family works, because my mom and dad are tennis coaches, a big bomb fell near them, near their academy,” he said.
“Two months or so ago, my grandmother and grandfather were in Nova Kakhovka (the city where he was born) but now it is a territory occupied by Russian soldiers. They left immediately when it was attacked. So now my whole family is in Kiev,” he revealed.
“I no longer have a connection with Nova Kakhovka because everyone is in Kiev. I am very happy because it is impossible to stay and live because there are many weapons and soldiers near my grandparents’ house. They are very old. So for them it was very difficult to make the decision who moved from that city,” he added.
A decision they were forced to make when they saw how a bomb fell on their house.
“When the bomb fell directly on their house, a few meters to the left, they woke up and realized they had to move,” he recounted.
In addition, the WTA 1,000 finalist from Rome does not yet have a clothing sponsor.
“We are waiting. I have to improve my tennis, be up in the rankings. All the girls, as you can see, are good. It’s not always about me, it’s about this market in general,” he said.
Source: La Verdad
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