Ukrainian tennis player Lyudmyla Kichenok has ignited controversy at the Australian Open following a heated third-round doubles match. Partnering with Chan Hao-ching, Kichenok faced off against Kristina Mladenovic and Zhang Shuai, ultimately losing 7-6 (3), 6-2. However, it was an incident during the match that has drawn significant attention.
Kichenok accidentally struck Mladenovic with a ball, which led to a refusal to shake hands at the conclusion of the match. Mladenovic subsequently accused Kichenok of unsportsmanlike conduct during her post-match interview, expressing her frustration over the perceived lack of respect.
In response, Kichenok took to social media to clarify her stance, alleging that Mladenovic had issued a verbal threat following the incident. Kichenok stated, “I received very direct threat from my opponent after unintentionally hitting her with a tennis ball. The response to my numerous apologies was: 'You watch out next time.'”
She emphasized the implications of such behavior, highlighting violations of sportsmanship, potential psychological impacts on players, and the detrimental effects on the tennis community. Kichenok's statements have raised questions regarding the standards of conduct within the sport, particularly in high-stakes matches.
Mladenovic has yet to publicly respond to these accusations. Following their match, she and Zhang were eliminated from the tournament by top seeds Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova in the quarter-finals.