CNN —Ukrainian tennis player Dayana Yastremska said that her teenage compatriot Yelyzaveta Kotliar was likely to have been “too emotional and confused” when shaking hands with a Russian opponent. The 16-year-old Kotliar was competing in the first round of the Australian Open junior girls’ singles competition when she shook hands with Russian player Vlada Mincheva at the net. Ukrainian Tennis Federation/FacebookSince the start of the war, Russian and Belarusian tennis players have continued to play at tournaments and grand slams but must do so as neutrals without their flag or country displayed. ‘Nice to make history’On Wednesday, meanwhile, the 23-year-old Yastremska continued her stunning run at the Australian Open by defeating the Czech Republic’s Linda Nosková 6-3 6-4. I was a little bit nervous, but at the same time tired.”Yastremska will face China’s Zheng Qinwen in the Australian Open final four on Thursday.

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Persons: Dayana Yastremska, Yelyzaveta Kotliar, Kotliar, Vlada Mincheva, Yastremska, “, Kostiantyn, Liza, ”, ” Yelyzaveta Kotliar, Linda Nosková, I’m, Zheng Qinwen Organizations: CNN, Australian Open, Ukrainian Tennis Federation, Facebook, ‘ Locations: Ukrainian, Russian, Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Melbourne, Belarusian, Czech