- Russian and Belarusian tennis athletes have been playing under a neutral flag
- Ukrainian player Marta Kostyuk has family still in Kyiv while the war continues
- She has hit out at certain people who are ‘promoters of Russian peace’
Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk has hit out at some in the media, tennis officials and the sporting community for being ‘promoters of Russian peace.’
The 21-year-old has equalled her best Grand Slam singles result at the Australian Open by beating Russian Elina Avanesyan 2-6 6-4 6-4 to reach the fourth round of a major for only the second time.
She then beat another Russian in Maria Timofeeva, 6-2, 6-1, to set up a huge quarter-final match against American Coco Gauff.
However Kostyuk has been just as vocal off the court as she is on it, and has consitently highlighted the war back in Ukraine.
She took to social media after beating Timofeeva to hit out at those who still use the Russian flag despite it being banned.
Ukrainian player Marta Kostyuk has hit out against people still using the Russian flag
Kostyuk beat Russian Maria Timofeeva 6-2, 6-1 after beating another Russian Elina Avanesyan 2-6 6-4 6-4
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Kostyuk said: ‘As you know, with the beginning of the full-sclae invasion, we fought for the suspension of Russian and Belarusian Athletes.
‘Now they act in a neutral status without their flags.
‘We have repeatedly asked the quesiton what is the status of a neutral athlete? because it does not actually exist.
‘These athletes have repeatedly said that everyone knows which countries they represent, their government constantly says that these are their athletes and the world knows about it.
‘The internaitonal media and their publications write that these are Russian and Belarusian athletes.
Kostyuk will play American fourth seed Coco Gauff in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open
Coco Guaff will play Kostyuk next, with both women edging nearer to a major final
‘Many Athletes have their flag on social networks and so today after my victory over the athlete from the aggressor country, the Russian flag was published on the official resource of one of the biggest tennis tournaments in the world.
‘Today is the 679th day of full-scale war and the sports world continues to promote a murderous country and a country that uses its athletes as part of its propaganda.
‘I call on media representatives, officials and the sports community to stop using the tennis court to promote the “Russian peace”.’
Kostyuk has previously spoken out about the conflict too, saying: ‘The war is still there. People are still dying every day,’
‘My mom sends me videos when there are missiles flying over their house. My whole family is in Kyiv [Ukrainian capital] right now.’
