Marta Kostyuk holds the belief that the sport of tennis has neglected the ongoing war in Ukraine. She is optimistic that the recent achievements of Ukrainian female players at the Australian Open will bring more awareness to the issue. Kostyuk herself has made it to the quarter-finals of a major tournament for the first time in her career.
Kostyuk expressed hope that the current situation is coming to an end for many people. She stated that something extraordinary occurred where Ukraine was able to avoid being taken over in both Kyiv and three days, almost like a miracle. However, she feels that it is no longer a miracle and therefore not worth discussing. She wishes for the Ukrainian girls to continue their efforts and serve as a reminder as much as possible.
On Sunday, Kostyuk made progress in her career by defeating Maria Timofeeva of Russia 6-2, 6-1 in the fourth round. Kostyuk was previously considered one of the most promising young players after she qualified for the third round of the Australian Open at just 15 years old. With her impressive athleticism, diverse skills, and powerful groundstrokes, her potential indicated that she would eventually make a deeper run in the tournament.
At 21 years old and currently ranked 35th in the world, Kostyuk’s journey to success has been slower than she had anticipated. However, despite facing obstacles, she has remained resilient and continued to progress. Off the court, Kostyuk has always been open and direct, but with the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, she has become one of the most vocal and outspoken athletes on the topic of the war. “The war is still ongoing,” Kostyuk stated. “People are losing their lives every day.”
“I am still puzzled by the presence of all these players. My world remains unchanged. It seems like there are many complex processes at play that eventually lead to people forgetting about them because they become accustomed to it. While I recognize that everyone has their own problems and priorities, I believe it is my role to constantly remind everyone that this issue persists and should be addressed. It is not acceptable for it to continue.”
Although the players have endured a challenging time in their personal lives, this has been a remarkable period for Ukrainian tennis on the court. A record-breaking seven women from the nation participated in the main draw of the Australian Open, with three of them being seeded. Additionally, three Ukrainian women have advanced to the second week of the tournament for the first time in history.
When asked about their success on the court during a challenging time, Kostyuk stated that it demonstrates the unlimited potential of humans to endure stress and adversity. She personally found it difficult, but also believes it has led to personal growth. The unexpected events have accelerated this growth for her.
Without experiencing war in my life, I do not believe I would have grown as much as I have in the past two years. The way we perceive and handle situations greatly impacts our growth, as there are always challenges and hardships. It is natural to feel victimized at times, but minimizing this feeling can make life easier to navigate.
Following Kostyuk’s win, Elina Svitolina and Dayana Yastremska will face off on Monday to secure a spot in the quarter-finals. Kostyuk expressed pride in her and her teammates for persevering and staying determined to fight for their rights and the rights of others. She believes it highlights the strength of Ukrainian people.
Kostyuk, who is not seeded, will now compete against Coco Gauff for a chance to advance to the semi-finals. Gauff, the fourth seed, maintained her momentum in the tournament by defeating Magdalena Frech with a score of 6-1, 6-2.
Unfortunately, Mirra Andreeva’s impressive performance came to a close on Sunday evening as the 16-year-old was defeated by the ninth-seeded Barbora Krejcikova with a final score of 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. Andreeva had a strong start, utilizing her defensive skills and strategic play to frustrate Krejcikova in the first set. However, the former French Open champion ultimately gained the upper hand with her strong serving and powerful forehand shots.
Andreeva expressed that there were many positive aspects to take away from the trip, particularly her last match which she described as “very great.” She also mentioned beating her idol and stated that there were many positive things to take away from both the trip and her match today.
On Sunday, Aryna Sabalenka, the second seed and defending champion, maintained her dominant performance in the tournament by beating Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 6-2. Krejcikova and Sabalenka will compete for a place in the semi-finals.
Source: theguardian.com
