Marta Kostyuk Reacts to Possibility of Russian Athletes Being Allowed to Play in 2028 Los Angeles Olympics

Marta Kostyuk has now become a two-time Grand Slam semifinalist. On Wednesday (July 8), the Ukrainian ace breezed past Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 6-2 to reach the semifinals of Wimbledon for the first time in her career.

Before this year, Kostyuk had never made it past the fourth round of Wimbledon. She reached her career’s first Grand Slam semifinals at this year’s French Open, losing the match to Mirra Andreeva. Kostyuk, who is very vocal about what the people back home are suffering due to the war with Russia, was asked at the press conference about the possibility of Russian athletes being allowed to play at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

My thoughts are that it’s terrible. I think it’s very, very far from fair play for all the countries involved here. Not just for Ukraine. I 100% don’t agree with this decision. I feel like a lot of people spoke out on this issue, and they obviously don’t agree as well. I don’t think anything is going to change. I want to just go out there and hopefully beat every single Russian I play in Olympics, and that’s it.

Kostyuk, who has improved her head-to-head record over Paolini to 2-2, will face Linda Noskova in the last eight. The Czech ace clinched a straight-set win over Elise Mertens to reach the Grand Slam semifinals for the first time in her career.

Marta Kostyuk dedicates her victory over Jasmine Paolini to her grandpa

Marta Kostyuk, at the press conference after her win over Jasmine Paolini, was asked whether there was someone she wanted to dedicate her first Wimbledon semifinal to. The 24-year-old dedicated the win to her grandpa.

I was thinking about it. I think it would be my mom or my grandpa. I’m so happy I’m able to do this while my grandpa is still alive. He’s 89 years old. And he’s texting me after every single match, telling me what I should do better. In these past few matches, he didn’t. He was just like super proud and telling me how good I’m playing. So that’s a win.

Kostyuk has already won two titles this season. After losing to World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in the Brisbane International final, Kostyuk clinched trophies at the Open de Rouen and the Madrid Open by beating Veronika Podrez and Mirra Andreeva, respectively.

I didn’t get a lot of messages like this from him in my life, so I’m very happy they get to witness this. They’ve sacrificed so much time and energy, and themselves for my tennis and my career. They still do. They’re back home now. I feel like they deserve it as much as I do.

Marta Kostyuk added

Kostyuk was scheduled to play the Queen’s Club Championships before arriving at Wimbledon, but she withdrew from the WTA 500 event. The winner of the Kostyuk versus Linda Noskova will face Coco Gauff or Karolina Muchova in the final.

Gauff, who lost to Sabalenka in the final of this year’s Miami Open and to Elina Svitolina in the Italian Open final, has yet to win a title this season. Before this season, she had never made it past the fourth round at Wimbledon.

Defending champion Iga Swiatek‘s run was ended by Alexandra Eala in the third round. This only means one thing: a player who has never won at SW19 will emerge as a champion. Serena Williams was the last woman to defend her title in the tournament (2015 – 2016).

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