Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina grabbed a second straight victory over Victoria Azarenka of Belarus on the WTA Tour DC Open in Washington on Monday, weeks after the duo’s Wimbledon conflict was marred by a handshake controversy. Azarenka was booed off court docket at Wimbledon earlier this month after her defeat to Svitolina, with followers apparently perceiving she had snubbed her Ukrainian opponent by not advancing to the web for a handshake.

In reality, Svitolina didn’t provide a handshake — one thing she has declined to do with gamers from Russia and Belarus ever for the reason that invasion of her homeland. Belarus is a key navy ally of Moscow.

On Monday, match organizers in Washington aimed to pre-empt any doable repeat of the controversy by informing followers earlier than the match there could be no handshakes.

“At the conclusion of the match there will be no handshake between the players,” a message on an enviornment display stated beforehand.

“We appreciate your respect for both athletes during and following the match, and for your understanding during these difficult circumstances.”

With that concern settled, it was left to the 2 rivals to serve up a hard-fought if error-strewn battle that noticed no fewer than 17 breaks of serve earlier than Svitolina lastly prevailed 7-6 (7/2), 6-4.

Svitolina clinched victory by breaking Azarenka’s serve within the tenth sport of the second set.

A wild Azarenka backhand introduced Svitolina with a match level which she duly transformed on the primary try after bludgeoning a forehand winner into the nook.

Azarenka saluted Svitolina’s victory with a fleeting thumbs up earlier than heading off the court docket.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)