(VIDEO) Sabalenka first-round rival Kostovic linked to controversial on-court exchange with Ruse in Madrid

Sunday, 28 June 2026 at 19:00

A day before the start of Wimbledon, Aryna Sabalenka enters the tournament as the world No. 1 facing a first-round opponent largely unknown to the wider public. Teodora Kostovic, a 19-year-old Serbian qualifier, arrives at the All England Club as one of the youngest players in the draw and one of the least experienced at tour level.

However, in recent hours, Kostovic has gained unexpected visibility on social media following the resurfacing of a heated on-court incident from last season’s Madrid Open qualifiers. The video, widely shared online, has brought renewed attention to a match that already carried significant competitive tension at the time.

Kostovic is still in the early stages of her professional career but has already shown competitive resilience. The Serbian teenager is ranked world No. 184, with a career-high of No. 159, and has primarily competed on the ITF and WTA 125 tournaments while attempting to establish herself at WTA level.

Despite limited experience at the top tier, she has now earned a place in the Wimbledon main draw after progressing successfully through qualifying, setting up a first-round Centre Court meeting with the top seed on the opening day of the Championships.

Madrid 2025 flashpoint between Kostovic and Ruse resurfaces

The incident that has returned to circulation took place during the 2025 Madrid Open qualifying rounds, where Kostovic faced experienced Romanian player Elena-Gabriela Ruse in a tightly contested three-set match.

Kostovic ultimately won the encounter 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(3) after nearly three hours of play, securing one of the most significant victories of her early career against a player with established top-100 experience.

During the match, Kostovic’s vocal celebrations reportedly drew frustration from Ruse, particularly as sections of the crowd appeared to support the Romanian player. The tension increased as the match progressed into a decisive third-set tie-break.

The situation escalated at the conclusion of the contest when Ruse declined the traditional handshake at the net and approached Kostovic directly, leading to a verbal exchange between the two players.

Ruse can be heard in the exchange stating: "I'm not going to say anything, don't worry," the Romanian said. "I'm the more mature one here."

The incident was further intensified when Kostovic began recording the exchange on her phone, an action that added to the visibility of the dispute and contributed to its later circulation on social media platforms.

Ruse no la saludó al final y terminó en discusión https://t.co/h4pWjs7VO8 pic.twitter.com/tMtmmqjt1g
— Tommy (@tomistx) April 21, 2025

From qualifiers to Wimbledon Centre Court test

Kostovic, who turned 19 only recently, continues to develop her ranking profile, having reached a career-high ranking of No. 159, and currently sits around No. 184. Her experience at WTA level remains limited, with most of her match play coming in qualifying rounds and lower-tier events.

Her breakthrough moment on the WTA circuit came in Madrid 2025, where she recorded her first victory over a top-100 ranked player, defeating Ruse in the same tournament where their confrontation occurred. Shortly afterwards, she made her WTA 1000 main-draw debut but lost in the opening round to Eva Lys.

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Since then, she has primarily competed in WTA 125 and ITF events, focusing on accumulating ranking points and match experience as part of her transition to higher-level competition.

Her run through Wimbledon qualifying included wins over more experienced opponents, including players with previous main-draw Grand Slam experience such as Rebecca Šramková and Lin Zhu, both former top-40 players.

Now, Kostovic faces the most significant challenge of her young career: a first-round Wimbledon meeting with Aryna Sabalenka on Centre Court, on the opening day of the tournament, marking her Grand Slam main-draw debut at the highest possible stage.

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Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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