Ukrainian athlete Marta Kostyuk accused Russian players of hiding behind silence over the war in Ukraine, saying that after four years of conflict they were showing “whose side they are on,” as the tennis player reached her first Grand Slam semifinal at the French Open on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old defeated fellow Ukrainian Elina Svitolina in three sets 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 in a thrilling quarter-final just hours after another night of Russian attacks on Kiev. At the end of the game, Marta launched a virulent attack in a press conference on Russian players who continue to avoid publicly condemning Russia's war in Ukraine.
Kostyuk will face in the semifinals the Russian Mirra Andreeva, who eliminated the Romanian Sorana Cîrstea on Tuesday, also in the quarters. The Ukrainian said she no longer accepts the argument that Russian athletes prefer to remain silent because of possible repercussions at home.
“There is a solution if you don't agree,” Kostyuk told reporters. “I know people who left Russia as soon as the war started, who sold all their businesses, who left everything behind because they just don't agree with what their country is doing to other people.”
She cited her colleague Daria Kasatkina, who changed her citizenship from Russian to Australian last year, as an example of someone who took a public stand despite pressure on her family.
“Anyway, I don't think she lives in Russia, but most of the players don't live in Russia,” Kostyuk said. “Nothing stops you if you don't believe in it (in war, no),” added the Ukrainian.
“After four years, I think they (the Russian athletes, no) have shown very clearly whose side they are on,” the tennis player from Ukraine raged.
Marta Kostyuk's comments came after she was asked about claims by Russian players, including Diana Shnaider and Mirra Andreeva, who previously said they were only focused on the tennis ball and avoided “political talk”.
“They're all adults. They know what they're talking about. They know what's going on. They have phones. They have Instagram. They have access to the news,” Kostyuk said.
“I wish there was a clearer position on what's going on, especially when your country is killing other people,” the Ukrainian player added.
Earlier, the Ukrainian had dedicated her win to the “Ukrainian people” after revealing she had woken up to another bloody night of bombing and then checked her family was safe.
Kostyuk said that representing Ukraine has become more important than the results themselves.
“With everything going on, for me to be here is a real blessing and I'm not thinking about winning,” she said. “I'm here to represent Ukraine and enjoy the moment.”
