Ukrainian tennis player criticizes Russian opponents at French Open tournament

Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk Advances to Semifinals at Roland Garros

Marta Kostyuk, a 23-year-old Ukrainian tennis player, has reached her first Grand Slam semifinal at the French Open. She defeated fellow Ukrainian Elina Svitolina in an emotional quarterfinal match on Tuesday.

Kostyuk’s victory came hours after another night of Russian strikes on Kyiv. In a post-match press conference, Kostyuk stated that she no longer accepts the argument that Russian athletes could remain silent about the war due to potential repercussions at home. She cited examples of players who have spoken out against the conflict, including Daria Kasatkina, who switched her allegiance from Russia to Australia last year.

Kostyuk also addressed comments made by some Russian players, including Mirra Andreeva, who have previously stated that they focus on tennis and avoid discussing politics. Kostyuk stated that she believes these players are aware of the situation and have access to information through their phones and social media platforms.

In a statement, Kostyuk dedicated her victory to “the Ukrainian people” and expressed her commitment to representing Ukraine at the tournament. She also mentioned that for her, being part of the tournament has become more important than winning, as she wants to use her platform to support her country during this difficult time.

Kostyuk will face Mirra Andreeva in the semifinals.

Source: Al Jazeera