MARTA KOSTYUK

There was no handshake after Belarusian Victoria Azarenka beat Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk at the U.S. Open — as war tensions continue to affect the sports world.

NEW YORK — (AP) — Iga Swiatek is winning easily — and quietly. The two-time French Open champion easily beat 2017 U.S. Open winner Sloane Stephens 6-3, 6-2 on Thursday in the second round for her WTA Tour-leading 50th victory this season. Swiatek came to the U.S. Open just 4-4 since the end of her 37-match winning streak earlier this year, but has dropped just eight games through two rounds. 15 Marin Cilic, the 2015 U.S. Open champion, advanced, but No. Pegula was due back on the court later Thursday to join Coco Gauff for their first-round doubles match.

Iga Swiatek is winning easily — and quietly.

Belarus helped Russia launch its invasion of Ukraine in February, and Kostyuk said it had been on her mind since she saw the U.S. Open draw that she may have to play Azarenka in the second round. It’s their decision.”Kostyuk said she texted Azarenka a day before the match to inform her there would be no handshake. Azarenka said she reached out to all the Ukrainian players she has a relationship with in March after the invasion. I’m open any time to listen, to try to understand, to sympathize. They are allowed to play at the U.S. Open, without their nations or their flags being listed.

A Ukrainian player declined to shake hands with Victoria Azarenka after the three-time U.S. Open runner-up from Belarus beat her at Flushing Meadows.

A Ukrainian player declined to shake hands with Victoria Azarenka after the three-time U.S. Open runner-up from Belarus beat her at Flushing Meadows on Thursday. Marta Kostyuk waited at the net with her racket held up, which Azarenka tapped with her racket following her 6-2, 6-3 victory. Belarus helped Russia launch its invasion of Ukraine in February, and Kostyuk said it had been on her mind since she saw the U.S. Open draw that she may have to play Azarenka in the second round.

Coco Gauff’s shoes carried the message “Play for Peace” as she joined Rafael Nadal, Iga Swiatek and other tennis stars in a pre-U.S. Open exhibition event that helped generate more than $1 million for humanitarian assistance in Ukraine.

Lesia Tsurenko is a professional tennis player from Ukraine who is trying to carry on with her career while her country is being invaded by Russia.

John Isner believes in his chances against Rafael Nadal in the second round of the Italian Open.

Defending champion Naomi Osaka didn’t make it to a much-anticipated fourth-round contest against top-ranked Ash Barty at the Australian Open.

Emma Raducanu came down to earth in her first tournament since her surprising U.S. Open victory, losing in straight sets to Aliaksandra Sasnovich at the BNP Paribas Open.

Novak Djokovic has started his bid to make history at the U.S. Open with a four-set victory over Danish teenager Holger Vitus Nodskov Rune.

American 17-year-old Coco Gauff completely overwhelmed Ons Jabeur 6-3, 6-1 at the French Open to become the youngest woman to reach the quarterfinals at any Grand Slam tournament in 15 years.

Novak Djokovic has rallied from a two-set deficit to reach the French Open quarterfinals for the record 15th time.

Defending champion Iga Swiatek is into the quarterfinals of the French Open after beating unseeded 18-year-old Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine 6-3, 6-4 in the fourth round.

France Tennis French Open Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates towards the crowd after defeating Lithuania's Ricardas Berankis during their third round match on day 7, of the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, Saturday, June 5, 2021. How do you say in French?” Djokovic said, this time truly lost for words. Kostyuk was a junior Grand Slam champion who made her debut in the main draw at that level at age 15. SCHWARTZMAN'S STROLLSDiego Schwartzman is strolling through this year's French Open, on and off the court. Which might not seem like a lot, but it's a big change from the last trip to the clay-court Grand Slam tournament.

Novak Djokovic has not been tested in a set, let alone a match, at this year's French Open.

France Tennis French Open United States Serena Williams prepares to serve to Romania's Irina-Camelia Begu during their first round match on day two of the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, Monday, May 31, 2021. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) (Michel Euler)PARIS — (AP) — The Latest on the French Open (all times local):___10:55 p.m.Serena Williams is a winner in the first scheduled night session in French Open history. The president of the French tennis federation said Naomi Osaka’s withdrawal from the French Open is “unfortunate” and wished her the “quickest possible recovery.”The four-time Slam champion pulled out of French Open on Monday, saying that she would be taking a break from competition. ___8:10 p.m.Naomi Osaka says on Twitter that “the best thing for the tournament” is if she withdraws from the French Open. ___4:55 p.m.Bianca Andreescu, the 2019 U.S. Open champion, is out of the French Open in the first round after losing a 9-7 third set.

(AP Photo/Michel Euler) (Michel Euler)PARIS — (AP) — The Latest on the French Open (all times local):___10 p.m. In a statement to journalists at Roland Garros, Gilles Moretton said “first and foremost we are sorry and sad for Naomi Osaka." ___8:10 p.m.Naomi Osaka says on Twitter that “the best thing for the tournament” is if she withdraws from the French Open. ___6:05 p.m.Roger Federer has made a winning return to Grand Slam tennis after 16 months away. ___4:55 p.m.Bianca Andreescu, the 2019 U.S. Open champion, is out of the French Open in the first round after losing a 9-7 third set.

France Tennis French Open United States's Sofia Kenin plays a return to Ukraine's Elina Ostapenko during their first round match on day two of the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, Monday, May 31, 2021. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) (Michel Euler)PARIS — (AP) — The Latest on the French Open (all times local):___9 p.m.Former French Open champion Garbiñe Muguruza has lost her opening match at Roland Garros to 18-year-old Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine, 6-1, 6-4. It was her first opening-round exit at the French Open. Federer won the 2009 French Open for one of his 20 Grand Slam titles. ___4:55 p.m.Bianca Andreescu, the 2019 U.S. Open champion, is out of the French Open in the first round after losing a 9-7 third set.

The president of the French tennis federation said Naomi Osaka’s withdrawal from the French Open is “unfortunate” and wished her the “quickest possible recovery.”.

NEW YORK The Latest on the U.S. Open tennis tournament (all times local):11:10 a.m. Play is underway in third-round matches on Day 5 at the U.S. Open. Past champions Naomi Osaka and Novak Djokovic are among those scheduled to play in Arthur Ashe Stadium later Friday. Osaka will face Marta Kostyuk to begin the day session in the tournaments main arena. The top-seeded Djokovic will bring a 28-match winning streak, including 25-0 this season, into his night match against Jan-Lennard Struff.

Naomi Osaka, of Japan, serves to Marta Kostyuk, of the Ukraine, during the third round of the US Open tennis championships, Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, in New York. Another past U.S. Open champion moving into the fourth round Friday was 2016 titlist Angelique Kerber, who defeated 20-year-old American Ann Li 6-3, 6-4. Kerbers next opponent is another American, 28th-seeded Jennifer Brady, a 6-3, 6-3 winner against Caroline Garcia. The key moment: Kostyuk held five break points that could have given her a 3-1 lead in the final set. Each time on court during the tournament, Osaka is wearing a different mask in memory of a victim of racial injustice.