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Handshake Drama: Watch Aryna Sabalenka & Jelenka Ostapenko's Awkward Exchange

Tennis fans are debating if Aryna Sabalenka should have been happier for Jelena Ostapenko after the Stuttgart Open final.
Pat Benson|
Tennis fans are discussing the post-match handshake between Aryna Sabalenka and Jelena Ostapenko.
Tennis fans are discussing the post-match handshake between Aryna Sabalenka and Jelena Ostapenko. | IMAGO / Michael Weber

On Monday morning, Jelena Ostapenko capped off her amazing run in Stuttgart with a win over top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka: 6-4, 6-1.

Ostapenko wins the WTA 500 clay court event and will enjoy a nice bump in the rankings. Meanwhile, Sabalenka leaves again without the prize car at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.

Sabalenka was obviously frustrated with her play during the match but quickly cooled off. Within a few minutes, Sabalenka was her usually bubbly self, congratulating her opponent and making self-deprecating jokes.

However, that was not before the Tennis Handshake Police (THP) jumped on videos of the post-match handshake between Sabalenka and Ostapenko.

Depending on the camera angle, it looks like Sabalenka either gave an unenthusiastic handshake or displayed a perfectly fair amount of sportsmanship.

There is no debating that Ostapenko was obviously thrilled and greeted Sabalenka with a wide smile at the net. Sabalenka quickly shook Ostapanko's hand, said a few kind words, and kept it moving.

From there, Ostapenko's smile immediately disappeared from her face. The 27-year-old took a more somber approach to shake the hand of the chair umpire before eventually celebrating in front of the crowd.

Final Verdict

After reviewing the tape many times, the International Handshake Integrity Agency (IHIA) finds Sabalenka innocent of any wrongdoing.

Sabalenka looked Ostapenko in the eye, shook her hand, and even said a few words of encouragement. That is far more than many of the frosty handshakes we have seen on the WTA Tour.

Luckily for tennis fans who love exciting matches and dramatic storylines, clay court season continues in Madrid this week with Masters 1000 events for the ATP and WTA.

Follow Sports Illustrated's Serve on SI for all the most important news from the tennis court and beyond.

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Carlos Alcaraz loses Barcelona Open final and World No. 2 Ranking.

Alexander Zverev defeated Ben Shelton to win the BMW Open final.

Alexander Zverev was viciously heckled at the BMW Open in Munich.

Published
Pat Benson
PAT BENSON

Pat Benson covers professional tennis for Serve on Sports Illustrated, reporting on ATP and WTA events worldwide. From Challenger tournaments to Grand Slams, he brings readers in-depth coverage, daily recaps, and exclusive interviews with some of the biggest names in the sport. With a decade of experience in sports journalism, Pat is recognized as a trusted voice in tennis media. You can contact him at 1989patbenson@gmail.com.

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