By Tennis Now | Thursday March 10, 2022
Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk wants the WTA to step up and produce a more stinging condemnation of the Russian invasion of her country. Kostyuk says she has been terrified since the Russian invasion of Ukraine started on February 24th. She is worried sick about her family, and her country, and says she’s feeling helpless as she plays tennis in California.
More: Tennis Now Q&A with Marta Kostyuk, on Coming Back from Covid and Plan B Tennis
On Thursday at Indian Wells, the 19-year-old says it’s hard to gather the courage just to get on the tennis court.
That did not keep her from scoring an emotional win in Indian Wells in a three hour and nine minute match against Maryna Zanevska. The Kiev native says it it took everything she had, because her heart was so heavy. She told reporters she didn’t know what to expect from herself.
“Honestly in the current mental state that I’m in it was very tough to go on court,” she said. “I didn’t know what to expect from myself, I didn’t know what to expect from my body. When I woke up in the morning today, I was just like I’m not going to do it. I can’t do it.”
Kostyuk has been vocal in criticizing the WTA’s reaction to the Russian invasion. She posted to that effect on Instagram, and reiterated her belief in her post-match press conference on Thursday at the BNP Paribas Open. Kostyuk asserts that in other cases of social injustice and sexual harrassment, the WTA has been quick to criticize and take a stand. Kostyuk is angry that her country is under a brutal attack by a superior power and the WTA has not produced a strong enough condemnation of the Russian government.
Initially there was guilt The Ukrainian explained that she felt guilty at first. That she was free to travel the globe and compete in tennis tournaments while her family, friends and compatriots were under siege. But she has made peace with the fact that she needs to play her role.
“I was guilty that I am playing tennis, that I have the sky above me that is blue, and bright, and very calm,” she said. “Mixed feelings, but you can’t be in this position because everyone is fighting how they can fight. My job is to play tennis - this is the biggest way I can help. In the current situation, I’m sure I would be much less use if I came back and tried to volunteer. Obviously I would love to do it, but I think I’m a better use out here playing.”
Kostyuk also says she is disappointed with the reaction of her Russian peers on tour. She says that one Russian player has spoken to her, and another has texted her, but by and large she is disappointed by their lack of sympathy, and it hurts her.
"What is very disappointing, unfortunately none of the Russians came to me and told me that they are sorry for what their country is doing to mine,” she said. “There are more civilians dead than the Ukrainian army at the moment. Kids, and it’s just terrible.
“It just hurts me. It hurts me every time I come on site. It hurts me seeing all these players.”
And further, she says their statements of “no war” and calls for “peace” are only empty gestures, they have no substance.
“We fight and we fight and these no war statements, they hurt me because they have no substance,” she said. Through it all, Kostyuk says she has never been more proud to be Ukrainian… that everything she does on court, is for her motherland Ukraine. And she is proud of the way her countrymen are fighting, holding off the Russians.
“Obviously a lot of death and a lot of broken homes, the details are terrifying, but I’ve never been more proud to be Ukrainian than I am right now.”
Kostyuk will face Elise Mertens, the No.20 seed, in second round action at the BNP Paribas Open.