Marta Kostyuk Takes Swipe at Russian Players for Lack of Reaction to War: “I Don’t Know How They Can Sleep Peacefully at Night”

Marta Kostyuk will be playing a Grand Slam semifinal for the first time in her career. On Tuesday (June 2), Kostyuk beat Elina Svitolina in an all-Ukrainian quarterfinal at the French Open.

The win helped Kostyuk extend her winning streak to 17 matches thanks to her triumphs at the Madrid Open and Open de Rouen over Veronika Podrez and Mirra Andreeva, respectively, in the finals. Prior to this event, Kostyuk had made just one Grand Slam quarterfinal (at the 2024 Australian Open).

Kostyuk was very emotional after her first-round match versus Russia’s Oksana Selekhmeteva in the ongoing event. The morning before her match, she had heard that a building close to her parents’ home was destroyed by a missile.

After her easy win, the 23-year-old sobbed into the towel and fought back tears during her on-court interview. Later at the press conference, she shared a picture of the aftermath of the bombing.

When asked about Russian players’ lack of reaction to the war at the press conference after her latest win, Kostyuk suggested that she no longer cares for their stance on this situation, and that if they want to keep mum after everything, it’s their burden and not hers.

It’s no longer frustrating for me; they are all adults, they know what they are talking about and what is happening. They have phones, they have Instagram, they have news. It is clear that they are aware of what is happening; if it is something they want to avoid talking about, they have to live with it, not me. They choose the strategy that works for them; that’s all.

Kostyuk has become the first Ukrainian to reach the semifinals of the clay-court Major. Prior to this year, she had never made it past the fourth round, reaching the stage just once (in 2021).

Obviously, there is not much I can do about it; I wish there was a clearer stance on what is happening, especially when your country is killing other people. I do not know how one can sleep peacefully at night knowing that this is happening and have nothing to say about it.

Marta Kostyuk added

Russian-born Daria Kasatkina condemned the government for the war and later changed her nationality to Australian Open. Kostyuk’s semifinal opponent, Mirra Andreeva, avoided making political statements.

Yevgeny Kafelnikov reacts to Marta Kostyuk versus Mirra Andreeva clash

Marta Kostyuk holds a 2-0 head-to-head lead over Mirra Andreeva, defeating her in the quarterfinals of this year’s Brisbane International and the final of the Madrid Open. Former ATP World No.1 Yevgeny Kafelnikov is convinced the Kostyuk versus Andreeva match will achieve the highest TV rating in Russia for different reasons.

I was wrong have to admit!! Best TV raitings match of this year @rolandgarros will be Andreeva vs one of the Ukrainians for various reasons.

Yevgeny Kafelnikov wrote on X

Check out his post here:

I was wrong have to admit!! Best TV raitings match of this year @rolandgarros will be Andreeva vs one of the Ukrainians for various reasons. https://t.co/WDWqaT4ahh

— Kafelnikov Yevgeny (@KYevgeni) June 2, 2026

Andreeva, the seven-time singles titlist, has won two titles on clay (2024 Iasi Open and this year’s Linz Open). Apart from the Linz Open and the Madrid Open, she also played the final at the Adelaide International, defeating Victoria Mboko.

Kostyuk, the winner of three singles titles, won two trophies on clay. Apart from the Open de Rouen and the Madrid Open, she also made the final of the Brisbane International, losing the match to World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka.

Kostyuk has won just one Big Title, while Andreeva has lifted two (last year’s Dubai Tennis Championships and the Indian Wells Open). The 19-year-old will be playing in the French Open semifinal for the second time (she reached the stage in 2024).

Also read: Maja Chwalinska Stays Humble Despite Roland Garros Quarterfinal Run: “I Am Still the Player with Lowest Ranking”