Roland-Garros 2023 – 1st round – Aryna Sabalenka on Marta Kostyuk: “If she hates me, it’s not reciprocal”

Like all Ukrainians, Marta Kostyuk has been playing tennis a little more than for herself since February 2022 and the invasion of her country by Russia. From the following weeks, in Indian Wells, she had minced no words to criticize the lack of empathy of the Russian players.

Since then, she has not ceased, by deed or word, to express herself on the subject. Kostyuk in particular openly criticized the response, which was too soft for her taste, from world tennis authorities, which she reproached for not having sanctioned Russian and Belarusian players, as Wimbledon had done last summer by refusing to open its doors to them. At the US Open last year, the Ukrainian also refused to greet former world No.1 Victoria Azarenka at the end of their match, contenting herself with touching her racket in protest.

Currently 39th in the WTA rankings, Marta Kostyuk will face Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka in the first round of Roland-Garros on Sunday. If the young Ukrainian has not spoken on this subject since the draw made on Thursday, her opponent tries to ignore the geopolitical context. “I try not to think about these negative things and I don’t want to lose energy with all this“, explained the world number 2, likely to dethrone Iga Swiatek at the top of the hierarchy at the end of the Parisian fortnight.

“Regarding the lack of a handshake, I can understand that, added Sabalenka on Friday during his press conference. It’s hard for them to shake hands with a Belarusian or a Russian. What message would they convey to them? But it doesn’t matter if she (ndle: Kostyuk) hates me! I can not do anything about it. There will always be people who love me and hate me. In any case, if she hates me, it’s not reciprocated.”

Regularly questioned on the subject, the winner of the Australian Open had confided in April in Stuttgart that if she could “end the war“, she would, while claiming that “sport should not be politicized. We are just athletes. If it suits them not to shake my hand, too bad.” “But yes, if I could stop this war, I would“, she repeated again on Friday.

The last confrontation between Aryna Sabalenka and Marta Kostyuk dates back to February 15, 2022, in Dubai. It was a few days before Russian troops invaded Ukrainian territory. The Belarusian won in two sets, 6-4, 6-1. At the net, at the end of the meeting, there was a handshake and smiles. It was the time before.