Marta Kostyuk reveals reason behind raising ‘Slava Ukraini’ slogan in Stuttgart Open final speech

Ukrainian tennis star Marta Kostyuk has revealed the reason behind raising a slogan in the final of the Stuttgart Open. The 21-year-old suffered a rather disappointing defeat to Elena Rybakina in the final of the mega-event in straight sets with a score of 6-2, 6-2.

In her speech after final, the Kyiv-born raised a slogan ‘Slava Ukraini’ which gathered attention. Kostyuk was later quoted in a report where not only she explained the meaning of the slogan but also revealed that she used to raise the similar slogan before as well but that has been highlighted now because of a conflict going on between Russia and Ukraine.

"It's a saying we say in Ukraine. This is "Glory to Ukraine." People reply, "Glory to heroes." I used to say it before, as well, but it became more mainstream when the war began," she said. "We're in Monaco, for example, there are a lot of Russians, of course, and Ukrainian people, and if I see someone that I think is Ukrainian, I say, "Slava Ukraini!" If they don't reply, I definitely know that they are Russians.”

Both neighbours have been going through an armed conflict since February 2022 which has resulted in the loss of lives on both sides. Kostyuk and other Ukrainian players have constantly used the tennis platform to condemn the actions of the Russian forces on their soil.