Marta Kostyuk Hopes Russia-Ukraine War Doesn’t Last Her Entire Career

Marta Kostyuk is gearing up for Wimbledon, the main draw of which starts on June 29. Kostyuk, always so vocal about the Russia-Ukraine conflict, once again criticized her fellow players from Russia and Belarus for staying silent on the subject.

Kostyuk, like other Ukrainian aces, is not shaking hands with the players from Russia and Belarus, and also the ones born in these two countries but changed their nationalities (excluding Elena Rybakina and Daria Kasatkina). The 23-year-old now only hopes that the war, which started in 2022, doesn’t last her entire career.

I hope the war does not last my entire career. At this moment in my life, the war is one of the most important things I face daily, so I have to speak about it. Since the invasion, Russian and their ally Belarusian players have been allowed to compete as neutrals on the circuit, without national flags or official representation of their country.

Marta Kostyuk told Reuters

Because she is calling out the WTA as well as Russian and Belarusian players, she is facing attacks on social media. And although she initially found it difficult to handle the hate, it has now reinforced her sense of purpose.

We’re talking about players who play without a flag, but still represent their countries; everyone knows they are Russian and Belarusian. I have never said that these players, with what they are going to say, will stop the war, nor have they initiated it with their statements. But the question is: what do you stand for in your life, and what are your human values?

Marta Kostyuk added

Kostyuk has already played three finals this year. After her defeat to World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in the Brisbane International final, she clinched back-to-back titles at the Open de Rouen and the Madrid Open, beating Veronika Podrez and Mirra Andreeva, respectively.

Marta Kostyuk on whether she has the chance to win Wimbledon

At Wimbledon, Marta Kostyuk has never made it past the third round. She has made the third round twice, in 2023 and 2024, while last year, her run ended in the first round. Kostyuk, the winner of one hard-court and two clay-court titles, has never reached a final on grass.

There are players who have reached Grand Slam semifinals but have never progressed further, or have never reached another Grand Slam semifinal, so it is really difficult to talk about how I think I will play. I wish I could feel like ‘yes, Wimbledon or the US Open is mine’ or something like that, but I don’t think anyone ever feels that way. 

Marta Kostyuk told Reuters

Kostyuk reached her career’s first Grand Slam semifinal in this year’s French Open. She lost the match to eventual champion Mirra Andreeva. The only other time Kostyuk made a Major quarterfinal was at the 2024 Australian Open.

So far in her career, Kostyuk has won one Big Title, this year’s Madrid Open. After the French Open, Kostyuk was scheduled to play the Queen’s Club Championships, but she withdrew from the grass-court WTA 500 event due to injury problems.

At Wimbledon, former World No.1 Iga Swiatek will be competing as the defending champion. She beat Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6-0 in the final. But Swiatek is not enjoying good form and has not yet reached a semifinal this season. She last won a title at the 2025 Korea Open.

Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina are the heavy favorites to win the title. Rybakina has already clinched a Major this year, at the Australian Open, by defeating the Belarusian ace. The Kazakh ace won her career’s first Grand Slam title at the 2022 Wimbledon.

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