Tennis star Lyudmyla Kichenok makes bombshell claim she was THREATENED on court by her Australian Open opponent
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Tennis star Lyudmyla Kichenok has claimed she was threatened on the court during her women's doubles loss at the Australian Open on Monday, leading to her refusing to shake the hand of her opponent, Kristina Mladenovic. Kichenok appeared visibly angry when she and partner Chan Hoa-ching came to the net after match point and she pointedly ignored Mladenovic when she stuck out her hand.
![[The Ukrainian claims Kristina Mladenovic (pictured) menaced her after she accidentally hit her with a ball, despite her repeated apologies]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/22/23/94412919-14315041-image-m-4_1737588623049.jpg)
The Ukrainian dropped her bombshell allegation against the French star on Instagram on Wednesday night. 'I would like to clarify the situation that has happened in my third round AO match against Kristina Mladenovic,' she wrote. 'Publicly accused of bad sportsmanship. I would like to say my word.
![[Kichenok (pictured) defended herself against accusations of bad sportsmanship in a pair of strongly worded posts on Instagram]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/22/23/94413649-14315041-image-a-17_1737588897321.jpg)
'I received very direct threat from my opponent during the match after unintentionally hitting her with a tennis ball. Lyudmyla Kichenok (pictured) has alleged she was threatened during her third-round women's doubles loss at the Australian Open on Monday.
![[Footage of the match shows Kichenok (left) refusing to shake hands with Mladenovic (right) after match point in Melbourne]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/22/23/94412217-14315041-image-m-6_1737588699613.jpg)
The Ukrainian claims Kristina Mladenovic (pictured) menaced her after she accidentally hit her with a ball, despite her repeated apologies. Kichenok (pictured) defended herself against accusations of bad sportsmanship in a pair of strongly worded posts on Instagram.
'The response to my numerous apologies was "You watch out next time". 'I don't consider appropriate the act of respect like shake of hands in the end of the match with people who use verbal threats. Period.'. Kichenok then put up another post outlining the effects the alleged threats had on her, tagging the World Tennis Association, the Australian Open's official account and host broadcaster Channel Nine's Wide World of Sports.
