Marta Kostyuk’s Emotional Victory and Strong Stance on Russian Athletes
Marta Kostyuk has made history by reaching her first Grand Slam semifinal after a heartfelt victory over fellow Ukrainian Elina Svitolina. Her win not only marked a personal milestone but also sparked a powerful conversation about the stance of Russian athletes in light of the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia.
Kostyuk took the opportunity to address the silence of several Russian players, including Mirra Andreeva, who will be her next opponent in the semifinals. She criticized those who have remained quiet about the conflict, highlighting the example of Daria Kasatkina, who recently switched her allegiance from Russia to Australia. Kostyuk expressed her disagreement with the argument that Russian athletes remain silent due to potential repercussions at home.
“There is a way if you don’t agree,” Kostyuk said. “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.”
She added that she believes there is no reason for Russian players to stay silent, especially since most of them do not live in Russia anymore. “After four years, I think they’ve made it very clear whose side they are on.”
Kostyuk’s comments came in response to questions about Russian players like Andreeva, who have chosen to focus solely on their matches and avoid political discussions. Andreeva, when asked about the challenges of playing a Ukrainian opponent during wartime, responded: “For me it doesn’t matter who I play. 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, however, does not believe that staying silent is acceptable. “They are all grown-ups. They know what they’re talking about. They know what’s going on. They have phones. They have Instagram. They have news,” she said. “I wish there was some more clear stance on what’s going on, especially when your country is killing other people.”
A Historic Match and Emotional Dedication
Kostyuk, currently the best player on clay this season, leads Andreeva 2-0 on the tour, with her second win coming in the Madrid final a month ago. Despite this, she did not take a pre-match photo with Andreeva or shake hands at the net after their previous encounter, following protocol for Ukrainians facing opponents from Russia and its ally Belarus since the war began four years ago.
Her victory over Svitolina was particularly emotional, as it occurred during a night when Russia launched hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles against Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, resulting in at least 18 civilian deaths and over 100 injuries. Kostyuk dedicated her win to her compatriots, expressing her gratitude for their resilience.
“We had a very difficult night again in Ukraine, especially in Kyiv, so many people dead,” Kostyuk said after composing herself. “I want to give this match to Ukrainian people and to their resilience. Slava Ukraini!”
Svitolina, who was also affected by the attacks, shared her feelings about the ongoing situation. “Just very sad that we all have to really put up with this heaviness and pain every single day, and scared moments not knowing what’s going to bring the next day.”
A New Generation of Players
Andreeva, a 19-year-old rising star, won her match against Romania’s Sorana Cîrstea in less than an hour. This will be her second semifinal at Roland-Garros, having previously lost to Jasmine Paolini two years ago.
Meanwhile, in the men’s draw, world number three Alexander Zverev continues his journey to break his major title drought. Despite not winning a title in 2026, Zverev remains optimistic after advancing to the semifinals. He defeated rising Spanish player Rafael Jodar 7-6 (7/3), 6-1, 6-3.
With Carlos Alcaraz out due to injury and Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic eliminated early, Zverev’s path has opened up significantly. “I feel like the draw opened up a lot on the top half,” he said. “Of course, with João Fonseca beating Djokovic, it’s a big match that opened up the draw.”
Zverev’s semifinal opponent will be 20-year-old Jakub Menšík, who beat the 19-year-old Brazilian Fonseca 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3). The Czech Republic’s Menšík, ranked 26th, reached the fourth round of the Australian Open this year and won a Masters title last year by defeating Djokovic in the Miami Open final.
“We have fantastic players that are young on the tour right now; we have a lot of potential,” Zverev said. “I have to trust myself, trust my game.”
