‘They pretend like nothing is going on’ - Marta Kostyuk hits out at fellow pros over Ukraine ‘excuses’

Ukrainian teenager Marta Kostyuk has insisted that “sports have always been political” and that those claiming otherwise are simply using the statement as “an excuse” to avoid speaking out against Russia’s invasion of her home country. The 19-year-old Kostyuk, who faces Emma Raducanu in the Madrid Open second round on Sunday, says she’s been living through a “roller coaster” ever since war erupted back home and has called out her Russian and Belarusian peers for not publicly opposing the war.

Ad/> “I cut out all the contacts from all the Russian and Belarusian players I’ve been friends with because of the fact that we were friends and they never considered coming out to me and talking to me; I think that’s a pretty good reason, no matter what their feelings are, I really don’t care,” Kostyuk told Eurosport on Friday at the Caja Magica. WTA MadridOsaka 'trying to learn' from Nadal and Swiatek, Andreescu is back — Madrid Open Diary11 HOURS AGO “They pretend like nothing is going on, they pretend that they are the victims of this situation, which I honestly cannot get it.

“I don’t know how much time needs to pass before they stop making excuses for themselves to do whatever, to do anything, any decision, any movement.” Kostyuk rejects the notion that Russian and Belarusian players are worried about their families back home and have no choice but to stay silent. “Let’s be honest, players who are at least in the top 50 have all the money to move their families,” said the world No.

60. “Come on, it’s been two months, they have all the possibilities to move their family somewhere, it’s just the sacrifice that people choose not to make; it’s not like you have no choice.

Everyone has a choice in life. A hero’s welcome for Nadal,