Ukrainian tennis player blasts Russian rivals over 'shocking' act
Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk has blasted her Russian counterparts for their response to the war, while also taking aim at the sport's governing bodies.
After her first-round win over Maryna Zanevska at Indian Wells on Thursday, Kostyuk told reporters that she was shocked by the reaction of Russian players to the invasion of Ukraine.
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“What is very disappointing is that no Russian player came to see me,” the 19-year-old said.
“None have told me they’re sorry for what their country is doing to mine.
“One player messaged me, another chatted with me, but I didn’t hear any apologies, I didn’t hear anyone telling me they didn’t support what was going on. To me, that’s shocking.
“You don’t have to be involved in politics to behave like a human-being. Everyone knows what’s going on.
"It hurts me. It hurts me every time I arrive at the stadium and see all these Russian players.
“Their only problem right now is not being able to make money transfers. That’s what they’re talking about. This is unacceptable in my opinion.”
Kostyuk saved two match points in an emotional 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (8/6), 7-5 victory over Ukrainian-born Zanevska, who competes for Belgium.
But she admitted that she thought about not taking the court at all over the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
"Honestly, in the current mental state that I'm in, it was very tough to go on court," the 19-year-old said.
"I didn't know what to expect from myself, I didn't know what to expect from my body. When I woke up this morning I thought, 'I'm not going to do it, I can't win it'.
"I just tried to find a way. She was playing amazing, amazing tennis. My main goal was to fight and I fought.
"It was a tough comeback. ... Everyone is fighting how they fight. My job is playing tennis and this is the biggest way I can help in the current situation."
Marta Kostyuk hits out at tennis' response to Ukraine invasion
Kostyuk lashed out at the measures being taken by global tennis authorities in response to the war.
The ATP and WTA tournaments set to be held in Moscow in October have been suspended and the International Tennis Federation has barred both countries from the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup team events.
But Russian and Belarusian tennis players are still allowed to compete at ATP and WTA tournaments and grand slam events, however they can't compete under the name or flag of either country.
"I don't agree with the action that has been taken," Kostyuk said.
"Look at the other sports, look at the big sports, what they did, that's it."
Kostyuk said she was unimpressed by the response of individual players - such as Russian men's World No.1 Daniil Medvedev - who deplore war but don't specifically condemn the invasion.
"You cannot be neutral in this," she said.
"These 'No war' statements they hurt me because they have no substance.
"Seeing (Russian) players on-site really hurts me."
Kostyuk and Zanevska shared an emotional embrace after the former clinched victory in an encounter lasting more than three hours.
“Maryna is a former Ukrainian player, she changed her nationality a few years ago,” said Kostyuk.
“Her parents are in Ukraine, in a quieter area. Everyone is afraid.
"At the end of the match, I told her that she had played incredible and that everything was going to be OK, that our parents were going to be OK.”
with agencies
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