Former Ukrainian tennis player Alexander Dolgopolov is sure that Vladimir Putin has the support of many Russian tennis players and also shows understanding for the behavior of Marta Kostyuk after the Austin final.
von tennisnet.com
last edited: 09.03.2023, 08:08
On Sunday, Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk defeated Russia’s Varvara Gracheva in the Austin WTA tournament final. After the final, however, Kostyuk was criticized for refusing to shake hands with her Russian opponent. She also refused to take part in the final photo shoot.
Her compatriot and ex-tennis pro Alexander Dolgopolov is clearly on Kostyuk’s side and defends her behavior. He accuses tennis of “not keeping sport away from genocide”. Dolgopolov, who last played professional tennis two years ago, is now fighting in the Ukrainian army against the Russian invaders.
He continued via Twitter: “Putin has huge support in Russia, we have numerous facts that even many tennis players support their government and nothing has been done.”
Already no handshake with Azarenka at the US Open
After beating Gracheva, 20-year-old Kostyuk dedicated her first WTA title to all those who “fight and die” in Ukraine. Ferne, the Austin winner said: “Everyone sitting in the stands and everyone watching, especially in Ukraine, I want to say ‘Slava Ukraini’. In the position that I’m in now, it’s extremely special, to win that title.”
At the US Open, Kostyuk already refused to shake hands with Victoria Azarenka. After the game in New York, Kostyuk explained that Russian and Belarusian players do not do anything to show that they are against what is happening in Ukraine.
