Kostyuk Advances to First Grand Slam Semifinal, Then Takes Aim at Russian Players' Silence
PARIS — Marta Kostyuk reached her first Grand Slam semifinal at the French Open with a hard-fought 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 victory over fellow Ukrainian Elina Svitolina on Tuesday. But the 23-year-old’s focus quickly shifted from the court to the broader conflict that has divided the tennis world since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Speaking to reporters after the match, Kostyuk criticized Russian players who have remained silent about the war, saying that after nearly four years of conflict, their position is clear.
“There is a way if you don’t agree,” Kostyuk said, according to multiple outlets. “I know some people who have left Russia the moment the war began, who sold all their business, who left everything behind because they just don’t agree with what their country is doing to other people.”
Kostyuk pointed to Daria Kasatkina, a Russian player who switched her allegiance to Australia last year, as an example of someone who spoke out despite potential pressure on her family.
“I don’t think she lives in Russia anyways, but the majority of players don’t live in Russia,” Kostyuk said. “There is nothing that’s stopping you if this is something you don’t believe in. After four years, I think they’ve made it very clear whose side they are on.”
Her comments came after she was asked about remarks from Russian players, including Diana Shnaider and her next opponent, Mirra Andreeva, who have said they focus only on tennis and avoid political discussions. Andreeva, 17, reached the semifinal by beating Romania’s Sorana Cîrstea 6-0, 6-3.
“For me it doesn’t matter who I play,” Andreeva said after her match, according to reports. “I really try to play against the ball that is coming at me. Usually it doesn’t matter to me who I’m playing against, so I’m trying to really focus on the game and on the game plan.”
Kostyuk, who has been outspoken about the war since its start in 2022, said silence was unacceptable.
“They are all grown-ups,” she said. “They know what they’re talking about. They know what’s going on. They have phones. They have Instagram. They have news. I wish there was some more clear stance.”
The match took place hours after another night of Russian drone and missile attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, which Ukrainian officials say killed at least 18 civilians and wounded more than 100 others. The claims could not be independently verified.
Kostyuk dedicated her victory to the Ukrainian people.
“I want to dedicate this win to Ukraine,” she said, according to reporters at the scene.
Kostyuk will face Andreeva in the semifinal, a matchup that adds another layer to the ongoing tensions between Ukrainian and Russian players on tour. Since the invasion, Ukrainian players have refused to shake hands with Russian or Belarusian opponents, and tennis governing bodies have allowed Russian and Belarusian players to compete as neutral athletes.
Kostyuk’s criticism of Russian players is not new. She has previously called for the tennis tour to take a stronger stance against players who do not condemn the war. In her view, the current situation makes their silence more telling.
“After four years, I think they’ve made it very clear whose side they are on,” she repeated.
The semifinal is scheduled for later this week. Kostyuk, who has never advanced this far at a major, will be the underdog against Andreeva, who has been one of the tour’s rising stars.