Marta Kostyuk Makes Bold Statement About Russian Players After Wimbledon Win: “Far From Fair Play”
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Marta Kostyuk Makes Bold Statement About Russian Players After Wimbledon Win: “Far From Fair Play”
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Jul 6 2026; London, United Kingdom; Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine reacts during her match against Ashlyn Krueger of the United States on day eight at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images
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Jul 6 2026; London, United Kingdom; Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine reacts during her match against Ashlyn Krueger of the United States on day eight at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images
Until early June, Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk had never reached the last four at a Grand Slam. Six weeks later, the 24-year-old has done it twice and now stands on the verge of making history for all of Ukrainian tennis, with just one win separating her from becoming the first from her country to reach a Major final. But before she steps onto the court to face Czechia’s Linda Noskova in the semifinal tomorrow, she decided to address a major announcement made by the International Olympic Committee today.
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The IOC announced that the ban on the Russian Olympic Committee has been provisionally lifted. And Kostyuk is not happy about that decision, as she shared in the press conference following her 6-3, 6-2 win over Italy’s Jasmine Paolini.
“My thoughts are that it’s terrible,” Kostyuk said. “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,” the World No. 13 added. “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 the Olympics, and that’s it.”
Russian athletes were initially banned from using their country’s flags ahead of the 2018 Winter Games, following the uncovering of the massive state-sponsored doping allegations. But the athletes were permitted to compete in South Korea, and then at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Games representing the ROC flag. In October 2023, though, the ROC itself got suspended.
Athletes from Russia had to enter the Paris 2024 Games and the 2026 Milano-Cortina Games as neutral athletes, with some individual bodies prohibiting their participation altogether. World Athletics, for instance, had a complete ban on players from the country, which still stands, regardless of the IOC’s decision.
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Jul 6 2026; London, United Kingdom; Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine celebrates winning her match against Ashlyn Krueger of the United States on day eight at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images
ATP and WTA, however, never banned Russian players from taking part in tournaments, although they had to play without their flags. So, for tennis, not much changes heading into the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. What will change, though, is the fact that the Russian Olympic Committee, and perhaps their flag, could be represented again, which is what Kostyuk doesn’t like.
This is a developing story…
