"They pretend like they are the victims in this situation" - Kostyuk lashes out against Russian and Belarusian colleagues

Marta Kostyuk has once again slammed the Russian and Belarusian players on the ATP and WTA Tours for not speaking up against Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine, saying “they pretend like nothing is going on”.

The 19-year-old and her family were forced to flee from the Ukraine following the invasion in February and Ukrainian tennis players have all spoken up against the atrocities in their home country. While many players from Russia and Belarus have insisted they are “against the war”, Kostyuk feels they have not gone far enough as she hit out against her fellow professionals.

She said:

“I cut out all the contacts from all the Russian and Belarusian players I’ve been friends with because of the fact that we were friends and they never considered coming out to me and talking to me; I think that’s a pretty good reason, no matter what their feelings are, I really don’t care."

Speaking further she said:

“They pretend like nothing is going on, they pretend that they are the victims of this situation, which I honestly cannot get it. I don’t know how much time needs to pass before they stop making excuses for themselves to do whatever, to do anything, any decision, any movement.”

Asked about Wimbledon's decision she simply said:

“There is a list of countries that on the government level signed or voted that everything that is happening in Ukraine is genocide. So based on that, which is not political, the decision was made, so let’s be clear about this.”