(VIDEO) Kostyuk reiterates lack of respect for Sabalenka: "Just to reject her responsibility of having an opinion"
WTAMonday, 29 May 2023 at 07:46
Marta Kostyuk refused to shake hands with Aryna Sabalenka after their first-round tie at the French Open and the Ukrainian admitted that Sabalenka again should take a more personal stand against the war.
Kostyuk received booing and jeering at Roland Garros for not shaking hands and while Sabalenka understands, the former believes she is part of the root problem.
No shaking hands
"I feel like you should ask these players who would they want to win the war because if you ask this question, I'm not so sure these people will say that they want Ukraine to win," the 20-year-old told reporters.
"She (Sabalenka) never says that she personally doesn't support this war, and I feel like journalists should change the questions that you ask these athletes because the war is already there. It's been 15 months since the war has begun."
"Just by speaking out, I think she can just send some message because most of these people, they haven't even ever left the country," she added.
No respect
"Someone like Aryna...just to reject her responsibility of having an opinion on the most important things in the world, I cannot respect it.
"I don't respect her because of her position in this situation."
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Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
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