Ukranian tennis star Marta Kostyuk says she is no longer friends with players from two countries linked to the ongoing Ukraine war and has called for them to ‘stop making excuses.’
The 19-year-old says she has ended her friendships with peers from Russia and Belarus who she alleges has not spoken with her about the ongoing conflict. Kostyuk didn’t specify the name of any of those players. On February 24 Russia launched a ‘special operation’ against the Ukraine and it is suspected that they have been receiving support from Belarus. According to the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), at least 2899 civilians have been killed as a result of the war.
In response numerous sporting bodies have sanctioned players from Russia and Belarus in protest. In tennis, those players are only allowed to play as a neutral athlete for the foreseeable future and their national federations are suspended from team events. In April Wimbledon and the British LTA became the first tennis organizations to announce a ban on those players from participating in their events. A move which has divided opinion in the sport with Andrey Rublev describing it as ‘discriminatory’ and other governing bodies criticising the decision.
However, world No.60 Kostyuk has hit out at those athletes for not speaking against the actions of their governments. Rublev and others have previously displayed ‘no war’ messages either during or after matches. Although there is yet to be a player to criticize their leaders.
“I cut out all the contacts from all the Russian and Belarusian players I’ve been friends with because of the fact that we were friends and they never considered coming out to me and talking to me; I think that’s a pretty good reason, no matter what their feelings are, I really don’t care,” Kostyuk said during an interview with Eurosport UK.
“They pretend like nothing is going on, they pretend that they are the victims of this situation, which I honestly cannot get it.
“I don’t know how much time needs to pass before they stop making excuses for themselves to do whatever, to do anything, any decision, any movement.”
During their Spring press conference, The All England Tennis Club (AELTC) said they considered allowing Russian and Belarusian players to participate on the condition they sign some sort of documentation condemning their government. This proposal failed to occur due to concerns over player safety. Thousands of people have been arrested in Russia for participating in anti-war protests and strict laws are in place concerning condemnation of the war.
The argument that some players aren’t speaking out due to fear of reprisals has been dismissed by Kostyuk who believes they are just choosing not to.
“Let’s be honest, players who are at least in the top 50 have all the money to move their families,” she said.
“Come on, it’s been two months, they have all the possibilities to move their family somewhere, it’s just the sacrifice that people choose not to make; it’s not like you have no choice. Everyone has a choice in life.
“I know people who fled Russia. Who left Russia because of this, because they cannot live in the country like this, they cannot live in a country where they are not allowed to speak or they’re not allowed to do things.
“If your choice is to live and keep living in the country that doesn’t give you freedom, like basic human freedom… there are so many possibilities to do something. So many excuses for so many weeks.”
Kostyuk, who was born in Kyiv, has been seeking support from a psychologist during what she describes as a ‘roller–coaster’ period for her both physically and mentally. She says playing on a tennis court provides her with opportunities to speak out for her country.
Heading into the Madrid Open, Kostyuk has achieved a win-loss record of 10-7 so far this season with her best result being a run to the third round of the Australian Open.
.
