‘They have to live with this…’ – Marta Kostyuk speaks out against Russian players staying silent about the Ukraine war at the French Open
Ukrainian tennis star Marta Kostyuk spoke out about Russian players staying quiet on the war in Ukraine after she made it to the French Open semi-finals.
On Tuesday at Roland Garros, Kostyuk won a thrilling quarter-final against fellow Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2. She’s now the first Ukrainian in the Open era to reach a Grand Slam semi-final and has an impressive 17-0 record on clay in 2026.
Ranked 15th in the WTA, Kostyuk will face Russia’s Mirra Andreeva in the semi-finals. The 19-year-old Andreeva started the day strong, beating Sorana Cirstea 6-0, 6-3. This is Andreeva’s second time reaching a Grand Slam semi-final, having also done so at last year’s French Open.
Since the war began, Russian and Belarusian players without new nationalities have had to compete under a neutral flag. Some players have switched nationalities, like Anastasia Potapova, who now plays for Austria.
After Wimbledon last year, Andreeva said she supports peace but prefers to focus on tennis. “When I play, I just try to improve and enjoy life,” she said. “I hope everything will be resolved soon.”
After her win on Tuesday, Kostyuk praised the strength of the Ukrainian people. During a press conference, she was asked if she felt frustrated when Russian players avoid talking about the war. She said it’s not frustrating anymore because they’re adults who know what’s happening. “They choose not to talk about it,” she explained, “but it’s their choice to live with that, not mine.”
Kostyuk wishes there was a clearer stand taken by players, especially since “your country is hurting others.” She wondered how anyone could ignore that and still sleep peacefully at night.
When asked if she understood some players might be afraid to speak out because of possible consequences in Russia, Kostyuk mentioned Daria Kasatkina. Kasatkina has publicly condemned the war, come out as gay, moved to Australia, and changed her nationality.
Kostyuk said many people left Russia when the war began because they disagreed with what their country was doing. “They sold everything and started fresh somewhere else as a way to protest,” she said. She also believes that since tennis players travel so much, it’s possible to avoid living in Russia if they want to.
She gave Kasatkina as a strong example of someone who spoke up despite risks and made a new life abroad. Kostyuk added that most players don’t live in Russia anyway. “If you truly don’t agree with it, there are ways to stay away,” she said. But from what she sees, many aren’t choosing that path. “They’ve made it clear whose side they’re on. That’s their burden to carry, not mine.”