Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk Ignores Aryna Sabalenka in Runner-Up Speech in Brisbane, Gets Emotional While Talking About War: “Sister is Sleeping Under Three Blankets”

Marta Kostyuk suffered her sixth consecutive defeat to World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka.

Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk Ignores Aryna Sabalenka in Runner-Up Speech in Brisbane, Gets Emotional While Talking About War: “Sister is Sleeping Under Three Blankets”

Marta Kostyuk, Aryna Sabalenka (Image via X/The Tennis Letter, Game, Set & Talk)

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Aryna Sabalenka defended her Brisbane International title with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Marta Kostyuk in an hour and 17 minutes. It was Sabalenka’s fifth consecutive win over Kostyuk.

Kostyuk did not mention Sabalenka at all during her runner-up speech. The Ukrainian, instead, thanked everyone involved in hosting the tournament and the fans, and got emotional while talking about people’s sufferings back home due to the Russia-Ukraine war.

As per Reuters, Russia launched an attack on Ukraine’s energy system a few days ago, leaving the Kyiv residents in bitter cold, without power supply, heat, or water. Since its invasion in 2022, Russia has frequently struck the energy system.

I wanna say a few words about Ukraine. I play every day with pain in my heart. There are thousands of people who are without light and warm water right now. It’s -20 degrees outside. It’s very painful to live this reality every day. It’s very hot here in Brisbane, so it’s difficult to imagine. My sister is sleeping under three blankets because of how cold it is at home. I was incredibly moved and happy to see so many Ukrainian flags this week.

Marta Kostyuk said

The Belarusian kissed both her biceps to celebrate after winning the last point of the match, which was possibly a brutal response to Kostyuk’s testosterone comments. Kostyuk last year made a controversial statement regarding the World No.1 as well as World No.2 Iga Swiatek.

The World No.26 claimed Sabalenka and Swiatek are stronger because they have higher testosterone levels than the rest, and before her final against Sabalenka, she said her quotes were taken out of context. Sabalenka, in response to her comments, posted pictures in bikinis on her social media last year and, prior to her Battle of the Sexes match against Nick Kyrgios, said Kostyuk was simply making excuses.

Aryna Sabalenka eyes third title at the Australian Open

Now that Aryna Sabalenka has defended her Brisbane International title, she will shift her focus toward the first big event of the season- the Australian Open, the main draw of which is scheduled to start on January 18. Sabalenka will be eying a third title in Melbourne, having failed to do so last year with a three-set defeat to Madison Keys.

Aryna Sabalenka (3)
Aryna Sabalenka (Image via X/f)

Well, I don’t know. It’s tennis, it’s sport, and that’s why it’s so beautiful because you cannot predict anything. It’s like every day you go out there, and you prove your level, you prove your point. I think this week I did it really well, but nobody knows what’s gonna happen in the future. But the only thing I’m sure is that I will be there, I’ll be fighting, I’ll do my best to go as far as possible, and do a little bit better than I did last year. That’s where is my focus. My focus is on my game and developing myself, and making sure that I’m strong and healthy heading to the AO.

Aryna Sabalenka said at the press conference after her Brisbane International win

Had Sabalenka defeated Keys last year, she would have completed a three-peat at Melbourne Park. Last year, apart from the Australian Open, the 27-year-old also made the finals of the French Open and the US Open, losing the former to Coco Gauff and winning the latter by defeating Amanda Anisimova.

The four-time Grand Slam singles champion clinched four titles from nine finals last year. Apart from the US Open, she also won two more Big Titles: the Madrid Open by beating Gauff and the Miami Open by beating Jessica Pegula. Sabalenka also reached the final of the WTA Finals but failed to beat Elena Rybakina.

Also read: Jannik Sinner Reveals Why in 2021 He Expressed His Wish to Play More Against Carlos Alcaraz: “Saw Someone Who is Special”