Parents condemn 'awkward' moment daughter was thrown into

The parents of a 10-year-old girl inadvertently put in the middle of Thursday night's pre-match photo saga have condemned the "awkward situation" and asked for world politics to be kept out of sport.

Ava Sultana was selected to do the coin toss before Aryna Sabalenka's Australian Open semi final against Elina Svitolina.

The promising junior talent was all smiles as she performed the toss, and then posed at the net for the customary photo alongside both players.

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But Svitolina opted against being in a photo alongside Sabalenka given her stance as a Ukrainian player taking on an opponent from Belarus, amid Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

The situation resulted in young Ava having separate photos taken with Sabalenka and Svitolina.

In media reports about the incident, Ava was referred to by some outlets as a "ball kid" or "ball girl".

Her mother, Christina, contacted Wide World of Sports on Friday to set the record straight and point out Ava is in fact in Melbourne for a national junior tennis camp, and she one day hopes to be competing at major tournaments herself.

Ava was informed only about an hour before Thursday night's match that she had been selected to toss the coin for that particular semi final.

"We saw her briefly beforehand and she kind of looked up and saw her dad in the crowd, smiled up to him with excitement," Christina Sultana told Wide World of Sports on Friday.

"She knew she was doing a semi final, but she was over the moon when she found out it was Sabalenka. That's her idol, that's who she looks up to and loves watching."

But Christina, and Ava's father William, were taken aback when their daughter was unable to get a photo with both Sabalenka and Svitolina together, as other children routinely have done after coin tosses before Australian Open matches.

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Christina says while her daughter wasn't necessarily upset by the events, she would have been confused.

"For her this is a special moment. She was totally excited to walk out there with her idols," Christina said.

"She's obviously none the wiser this morning because she wouldn't have seen the media. But for us as parents, we've seen some of the stuff and gone 'Well, what about the little kid who's out there living her dream, and she's been put in the middle of politics?'. That's not even an on-court political thing, it's something totally separate to tennis.

"I think the fact they put kids in the middle of it, they should probably address these things so it's not an awkward situation on court and then it turns into something.

"The kids don't understand the background of it. They go 'why didn't they want to have a photo together? Why did she quickly walk away?'.

"Sabalenka took the time and put her arm around her and took a moment, then Svitolina kind of just quickly put her arm around and then walked off. It was quite awkward.

"(Ava is) living out her dream and her best life there, but I'm sure she had questions for her coaches and the people looking after her (at the tennis camp) as to why (the players) were separate.

"She's seen players on other days, she watches tennis avidly, so she would have been like 'why did they do separate photos?'.

"She's a developing, future tennis star and we don't really need this divide. Keep politics separate. Let the kids live out their dreams and aspire to these people."

Wide World of Sports has contacted Tennis Australia for comment.

Following the match on Thursday, Sabalenka was asked in her post-match press conference about Svitolina's refusal to share a photo or a handshake.

Svitolina is one of several Ukrainian players on tour who have refused to shake the hands of Russian or Belarusian players since the war began.

"I'm not focusing on that. They have been doing it for so long, so, like... it's their decision, and I respect that," Sabalenka told media.

"I think she knows that I respect her as a player. I know that she respects me as a player. That's all I care (about).

"About no handshake, it's their decision. I respect that.

"About Elina, I felt like I didn't have opportunity to even say, great job. I have it now, so great job, great match, great player, amazing tournament. Yeah, she played incredible."

Svitolina has returned to the tour after becoming a mother, and will next week re-enter the WTA top 10 following her stunning Australian Open run.

She used her post-match press conference to reiterate her support for Ukraine and its people.

"I feel like I should not be allowed to be sad. I have this amazing opportunity to play on centre court here, represent my country, to do it in a decent way, and to have an opportunity to use my words and just be there for my people," she said.

"I feel like for the past weeks, they have been really carrying me through with great emotions.

"I cannot complain. People are living a horrible and terrifying life in Ukraine. I should not be allowed to really be sad, because I'm a very lucky person.

"I was able to send little messages back to Ukraine. There is lots of people who are following the matches and supporting me.

"I think this exchange of positivity is something that helps people. That's what I get the feedback from them, and for me is something unbelievable. It's important, because I also know when I go back to Ukraine, I see people are really stuck in the routine. You know, it's dark days, grey days with so much negativity.

"So I think sports, in general, for Ukraine really unites us as a people and unites us with these great emotions. I think it's much needed for our country."

Sabalenka will take on Elena Rybakina in the final on Saturday.