The 2025 Internazionali BNL d’Italia delivered a moment of high drama and sportsmanship as Aryna Sabalenka, the world No. 2, faced Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in a gripping fourth-round clash on Rome’s clay courts. Sabalenka emerged victorious with a commanding 6-3, 6-2 win, advancing to the quarterfinals in just 73 minutes. However, the match’s conclusion sparked buzz when Kostyuk declined the customary post-match handshake, a decision rooted in ongoing geopolitical tensions. Undeterred, Sabalenka responded with a gesture of pure class, earning widespread admiration from fans and players alike.
The match itself was a showcase of Sabalenka’s relentless power and precision. The Belarusian star, a two-time Grand Slam champion, dominated from the baseline, unleashing 24 winners to Kostyuk’s 11 and converting three of five break points. Kostyuk, ranked No. 19, fought valiantly, but Sabalenka’s aggressive play and improved clay-court movement proved too much. “It was a great performance from me today,” Sabalenka said post-match, her confidence buoyed by a season that includes an Australian Open title defense and a Madrid Open final appearance. Her victory in Rome marked her 25th win of 2025, positioning her as a formidable contender for her first French Open crown.
At the match’s end, Kostyuk, adhering to her stance of not shaking hands with players from Russia or Belarus due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, walked straight to her bench, leaving Sabalenka at the net. The Foro Italico crowd, aware of the context, began to jeer, mistakenly directing their frustration at Kostyuk. Sabalenka, sensing the tension, paused briefly, then raised her hands in a heartfelt gesture of appreciation toward the stands, effectively silencing the boos and redirecting the focus to unity. “I just tried to show respect to the crowd and to the situation,” Sabalenka later explained, her voice calm but firm. “It’s not about me or her—it’s about the game and the fans who came to watch.”
This wasn’t the first time the two players navigated such a moment. At the 2023 French Open, a similar handshake snub led to a misunderstanding, with Sabalenka initially mistaking the crowd’s reaction as directed at her. Reflecting on that incident, she noted, “I was so confused at Roland Garros, but now I understand it’s not personal.” Her growth in handling these situations was evident in Rome, where her gesture transformed a potentially divisive moment into one of grace. Fans on social media hailed her response, with one writing, “Sabalenka’s class is unmatched—she turned a tough moment into something positive.”
Kostyuk, a rising star with a career-high ranking of No. 16 in 2025, has been open about her stance, emphasizing it reflects her principles rather than personal animosity. “It’s my choice, and it’s about what’s happening in the world,” she said earlier this year. Despite the defeat, her performance in Rome, including a third-round upset over Marketa Vondrousova, underscores her growing prowess. The 22-year-old’s resilience, both on and off the court, continues to earn respect, even amid controversial moments.
Sabalenka’s path in Rome now leads to a quarterfinal clash against either Jelena Ostapenko or Barbora Krejcikova, a match that will test her clay-court mettle further. With 11 wins in her last 12 matches, she’s peaking at the right time. “I’m just focusing on my game and enjoying being here,” she said, her eyes set on a deep run. Beyond the scoreboard, Sabalenka’s ability to rise above tension with dignity has cemented her as not just a champion, but a role model. As the tennis world looks toward Roland Garros, her Rome gesture will linger as a testament to sportsmanship in a complex world.
Not a massive fan of Sabalenka but that was Classy move ! 👏 pic.twitter.com/eqyZ6ty3zt
— Chewy Veetton (@bebem00m00) May 13, 2025
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