By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, August 26, 2023
"It's really difficult to predict anything ever in tennis. And this, I think, is the beauty of it," Marta Kostyuk says.
Photo credit: Wilson
Singles isn’t a solo venture for Marta Kostyuk.
The 21-year-old Kostyuk is never alone on court—she’s competing for a cause.
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Last March, the Ukrainian brought the power of her people to court in the Lone Star State.
An emotional Kostyuk conquered Varvara Gracheva 6-3, 7-5 in the inaugural Austin final to claim her maiden WTA title, which she dedicated to fellow Ukrainians. Kostyuk has been vocal supporting her home country and condemning Russia’s unprovoked invasion of neighboring Ukraine, which began last year.
"Everyone who is in the stands and everyone who is watching especially in Ukraine being in the position that I'm in, it's extremely special to win this title and I want to dedicate this title to Ukraine and to all the people who are fighting and dying right now," Kostyuk said. "Obviously, it's a very special moment. I want to thank you guys."
Winning her maiden title sparked emotional epiphany in Kostyuk, who conceded she struggled with guilt traveling the world playing tennis, while knowing her Ukrainian compatriots were struggling and suffering.
Ultimately, Kostyuk concluded the best way she can honor Ukrainians is to bring their fighting spirit to court with her.
“I was guilty that I am playing tennis, that I have the sky above me that is blue, and bright, and very calm,” Kostyuk 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.”
It’s been a breakout season for Kostyuk, who opened the season with a bang toppling Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in Adelaide. The pair will square off for the second time in next week’s US Open opener in what could be a riveting rematch and one of the most compelling women’s first-round matches.
Last September, Kostyuk experienced what she calls the most painful moment of her career in Flushing Meadows.
Following her US Open loss to Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, Kostyuk—who does not shake hands with Russians or Belarusians because of the invasion of Ukraine—tapped racquets instead of shaking hands at net sparking some controversy.
“It was my choice—I don’t feel like I don’t know any single person who condemned the war publicly, and the actions of their government, so I don’t feel like I can support this,” Kostyuk said after her 6-2, 6-3 US Open loss to Azarenka last September. “Don’t get me wrong, she’s a great competitor. But it has nothing to do with her being a human being.”
Kostyuk also said that she texted Azarenka before the match to warn her she would not shake the Belarusian’s hand afterward. Kostyuk hoped to have a conversation with Azarenka about the conflict, but Azarenka was not on site that day for that to occur.
After the match, former world No. 1 Azarenka said she was open to face-to-face discussion.
"I'm always open to listen. I can't force people to do something they don't want to do," Azarenka said. "But any time, she has my number, as you know, she texted me, and all others, as well.
"Whatever I can do to help people, I don't play political games, I don't play media games, that's not what I'm here for. I'm very direct person.”
Looking back on that 2022 US Open controversy, Kostyuk calls it the most painful tennis moment of her career.
“Against Azarenka last year at the US Open,” Kostyuk said. “That was the one that got me in many aspects—not just tennis—and everything that followed after that I would say was one of the worst experiences of my life.”
From that experience, Kostyuk has created some of her best tennis moments this season.
Blown out in the opening set at Wimbledon, a resilient Kostyuk regrouped and stunned eighth-seeded Maria Sakkari 0-6, 7-5, 6-2 for one of the biggest major victories of her career.
A versatile player, who can use the entire court and is comfortable closing at net, Kostyuk showed all-court acumen and stubborn spine in Washington, DC. Kostyuk fought off three match points edging 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu 2-6, 6-3, 7-6(5) in a Washington, DC thriller this month then backed it up beating WTA Finals champion Caroline Garcia.
Clearly, the world No. 37 is a player going places.
Fittingly, we caught up with Kostyuk at a tennis court in the commuter capital of New York City—the iconic Grand Central Terminal—where the Wilson brand ambassador hit with some members of the media in an appearance for her racquet, clothing and shoe sponsor. Kostyuk helped conduct a clinic at the famed Vanderbilt Tennis Club located on the fourth floor of Grand Central Terminal above thousands of scurrying commuters hustling to make their trains on time.
Kostyuk, who will play singles and doubles in New York, will be easy to spot on the US Open blue hard court. She'll be wearing a tennis ball yellow Wilson outfit and playing with the new Noir cosmetic for her Blade, part of the brand's Noir racquet collection inspired by the classic black and white film Noir era.
The energetic Kostyuk, was kind and gentle dialing down her game hitting with us media members, but still showed the snap and bite on her crosscourt forehand.
For the first time next week, Kostyuk will play the US Open clothed head-to-toe in Wilson while wielding her trusty Wilson Blade.
Kostyuk, who was taught tennis by her mother, Talina, a former pro, said she's never had a tennis hero and when she watches matches these days, like many fans, she's enthralled by the Carlos Alcaraz vs. Novak Djokovic rivalry.
Tennis Now: Marta, you’ve had a break-out year winning your first WTA title in Austin, beating Elena Rybakina, defeating Maria Sakkari at Wimbledon and recently a big win over Bianca Andreescu in DC. Which win or moment has been most meaningful for you and which has done most for your confidence?
Marta Kostyuk There are things that people remember for a long time, but for tennis player’s it’s different. Because we play every week, the scenery changes, the way you feel changes and you kind of forget, which I don’t think is the best thing, but it’s what we do. We forget.
So I kind of still try to carry it with me when I feel down. I tell myself: It’s fine, I still have those wins. I still have those moments and I have some not on my best days. So I think that’s also important to remember. And I just try to carry [the good wins] with me on my worst days.
Photo credit: Matthew Calvis
TN: You’re a fun player to watch because you have variety and can use the whole court, like against Bianca you were both drop-shotting at times, playing angles. When you’re playing your best tennis what is going right for you on court?
Marta Kostyuk When I’m playing well, the decisions I make are structured ones and I see the court very well. I feel the ball well and I would say that’s the biggest difference when I’m playing well.
TN: You’re playing head-to-toe in Wilson using the Wilson Blade. What does that mean to you?
Marta Kostyuk I’m really happy to be on the Wilson advisory team and helping them make the pieces better. It’s my first US Open [head-to-toe wearing Wilson] so we’ll see how it goes. Hopefully good (laughs). I’d say it’s been a good experience and I’m really happy and excited to be part of the Wilson advisory team.
TN: Do you ever hit with other Ukrainian players.
Marta Kostyuk Alexandr Dolgopolov was the first [top] player I met through hitting at the same club. I think I’ve hit with everyone pretty much. I was hitting with Elina [Svitolina], Anhelina Kalinina, Tsurenko. At Fed Cup, we all hit with each other. So I don’t have any restrictions.
Q: What do you love most about tennis?
Marta Kostyuk It’s never the same. Everything is different, every day.
TN: What is your goal for the US Open? What is your ultimate tennis goal?
Marta Kostyuk: Well, my goal has always been to win a Grand Slam. So this is what I have in mind every time I enter the Grand Slams.
I try to treat Grand Slams like every other tournament because you cannot put extra pressure on yourself, so yeah I try to simplify my life. The most important goal for me is to continue to do the right things and keep on going no matter what.
Because tennis is a sport where we compete against the other person on the other side of the net, so it's not that everything depends upon us. It's really difficult to predict anything ever in tennis.
And this, I think, is the beauty of it.