Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk has opted not to shake the hand of Belarusian Victoria Azarenka after their second-round clash at the US Open.
Former world number one Azarenka won the match 6-2, 6-3 but did not get a handshake from Kostyuk, who offered only a racquet tap at the end.
Belarus helped Russia launch its invasion of Ukraine earlier this year.
Belarusian and Russian players were banned from Wimbledon as a result of their governments' actions, but other tournaments have not done the same.
"I just don't think it's the right thing to do in the circumstances I'm in right now," Kostyuk said of a handshake.
Azarenka said Kostyuk texted her the day before the match, believed to be giving her a heads-up that no handshake would be forthcoming.
"I cannot force anyone to shake my hand, it's their decision," Azarenka said.
"How did that make me feel? It's not the most important thing in the world right now."
A similar thing happened with Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska against Azarenka at the Washington Open.
Three-time US Open finalist Azarenka said she has spoken to Ukrainian players who she is close with and reached out to those with whom she does not have much of a relationship through the WTA.
"[I've] been told it's not a good time," she said.
"If Marta wants to speak with me … I'm open anytime to listen, to try to understand, to sympathise."
Top-ranked Świątek under the radar with Williams taking centre court
Meanwhile, world number one Iga Świątek carried on quietly winning at the US Open, but she knows she is a distant number two as long as Serena Williams is still around.
The two-time French Open champion easily beat 2017 US Open winner Sloane Stephens 6-3, 6-2 on Thursday in the second round for her WTA Tour-leading 50th victory this season.
"Yeah, that's kind of her time right now," Świątek said of Williams.
"I'm just playing and focusing on that, and that's the most important thing for me."
A day after Williams eliminated second seed Anett Kontaveit, with number three Maria Sakkari and fourth seed Paula Badosa also knocked out, Świątek perhaps looms as an even bigger threat to win a seventh title this year, something nobody has done since Williams in 2014.
Past US Open champions Naomi Osaka and Emma Raducanu have also been eliminated, along with 2021 runner-up Leylah Fernandez.
Świątek came to New York just 4-4 since the end of her 37-match winning streak earlier this year, but has dropped just eight games through two rounds. She needed only 1 hour and 14 minutes to beat Stephens, having no trouble with her first match in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
"Honestly, I just tried to have the same kind of motivation or attitude as any other court, because it's the best way for me to perform good," Świątek said.
Williams resumes what could be her final singles tournament with a third-round match against Australian Ajla Tomljanović on Saturday morning (AEST) but, as further evidence of the focus of this major, first she returned to centre court for her doubles match with sister Venus against Czech pair Lucie Hradecká and Linda Nosková.
The sisters lost 7-6(7/5), 6-4, meaning Serena's time in New York will last only as long as her singles campaign is alive.
Other winners on day four of the tournament included sixth seed Aryna Sabalenka, eighth seed Jessica Pegula, 13th seed Belinda Bencic and 19th-seeded Australian Open finalist Danielle Collins.
In the men's draw, Rafael Nadal came back to win after cutting himself on the bridge of his nose when his racquet bounced off the court and smacked him in the face against Fabio Fognini.
Nadal was bleeding and took a medical timeout. A trainer put a bandage on his nose.
The 22-time major singles champion won the second-round match 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-1 at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
They started Thursday night local time and finished after midnight.
AP/ABC
