Looking between your score and where the missiles are flying, Marta Kostyuk exposes the distur

July 14, 2024

It’s the end of a brilliant Australian Open campaign for World No. 37 Marta Kostyuk. The Ukrainian went down fighting valiantly against reigning US Open winner Coco Gauff in the quarterfinals. Despite her best efforts, the American came out on top, winning the match 7-6(6), 6-7(7), and 6-2 after 3 hours and 8 minutes.

Kostyuk was playing in her first-ever quarterfinal in a Grand Slam event. Her wait for a maiden semi-final will, however, continue. But she can surely go out with her head held high, given the circumstances she is currently in.

An outspoken player trying to gather support for Ukrainians in their fight against Russia, the 21-year-old bluntly spoke about her mental battle before entering the court. Not only did she speak about herself but also about her family and friends, who have been stuck in war-torn Ukraine for the last two years.

While Kostyuk is supported at the tournament by her husband, Heorhii Sudakov, her other family remains in Ukraine. She talked about how she was checking the news on missile attacks before and after entering the court. She also revealed how one of her friends told her about checking her score and missile simultaneously.

I walked off the court… before the match, I was looking at the news, and I kind of guess that most likely there would be a big missile shelling again. When I walked off the court, I looked at this news again, and again, I don't know how many missiles yet. It's still too fresh. But yeah, I was texting with some people from Kyiv.

said Kostyuk.

Marta Kostyuk says her family & friends in Ukraine were checking her score in Coco Gauff match while they were checking where the missiles are flying:

“I walk off the court… before the match I was looking at the news and I kind of guess that most likely there would be a big… pic.twitter.com/pyfXKTvRj1

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 23, 2024

I said, How is it? How are you guys? They said, Well, we were looking between your score and where the missiles are flying. So it's still there. It's still there. My parents are still there. My daughter… ‘ my daughter,’ wow, wow, wow, "my daughter." Wow. No. My sister is still there. Yeah, it's still there, you know. Still not gone.

added Kostyuk.

It’s highly unfortunate that the war has continued for so long. People have been forced to flee their homeland and relocate as refugees.

Kostyuk, along with her compatriots like Elina Svitolina and Lesia Tsurenko, have been voicing their opinions time and again. But the negotiation offered on the subject of Russian and Belarusian athletes isn’t what they expect.

Marta Kostyuk labelled a hypocrite for her statements

The situation in Ukraine is nothing but heartbreaking. However, the world remains divided over it. Many argue that sports should be kept away from politics. But others contradict it, claiming sports have the power to reach millions, and that can help create better awareness.

Ukrainian athletes fall into the second category. Yet, Kostyuk and her compatriots have received criticism for their stance. Today was no different, with many fans finding her statement weird and out of place. Many blamed her for saying this only because she lost sympathy.

Sharing a wide spectrum of reactions online, here’s what fans have to say:

Any Word for Palestine ? Hypocrizy from the Ukrainians, they claim for humanity while they support Israël Genocide🤮

— Aymenlucho 🇩🇿 (@Aymenlucho) January 23, 2024

Why she capping 💀💀🤣🤣

— Frederic Kitengie🇨🇩 🏆 (@FredericKiteng6) January 23, 2024

She wouldn't be saying all that if she had won.

— MPORA Ⓜ️🅾️SES🎾🇺🇬🇵🇸 (@MosesMpora1) January 23, 2024

It's not really press conference talk- too manipulative.

— candace🐬🌍🐳☮🎾 (@kanestar) January 23, 2024

This debate will continue, and to the misfortune of the Ukrainian citizens and athletes, their sufferings will continue till peace is restored in the region.