Victoria Azarenka blasted the Wimbledon crowd as “unfair” and “drunk” after she was booed off Centre Court following her defeat to Elina Svitolina in a politically charged clash on Sunday. Ukraine’s Svitolina came through 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (11/9) after two hours and 46 minutes of thrilling shot-making on Court One to set up a quarter-final clash with world number one Iga Swiatek. 

As has become a common feature, Svitolina did not shake hands with Belarusian Azarenka in protest over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Belarus is a key military ally of Moscow. Azarenka, who held her hand up in the direction of Svitolina, seemingly in a gesture of respect, left the court to the sound of boos.