‘That’s shocking’: Ukrainian tennis star Marta Kostyuk unloads on Russian rivals
Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk has lashed out at rivals and the tennis world’s response to the Russian invasion of her homeland, saying anti-war platitudes weren’t enough for a country plunged into turmoil and fear.
Kostyuk saved two match points in an emotional 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (8-6) 7-5 victory over Ukrainian-born Belgian Maryna Zanevska in the first round at the Indian Wells WTA Masters.
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.
