Ukrainian player Marta Kostyuk has reacted to Belarus’ world number one Aryna Sabalenko saying she feels “a lot of hate” in the WTA locker room.

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Marta Kostiuk, war in Ukraine and tension at the WTA tournament

Acknowledging that there is tension between players from Ukraine and players from Russia or Belarus, Kostyuk (one of the most vocal players about the war in her country) said she did not show aggressive behavior towards Sabalenka.

“Maybe I don’t say hello to some players, but I’ve never approached anyone. Maybe I radiate hatred just by being in the locker room. I don’t know where people get such ideas from. But obviously there is tension, we are not friends. We have a war now.

No matter what I say, they will hate me even more. I get a lot of messages and a lot of them are terrible” – Marta Kostyuk for the Daily Mail.

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Kostyuk said that she will wait for the decision of the Wimbledon organizers (regarding the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus) and expressed disappointment with the way the WTA management is handling the situation.

“I wanted a meeting with the board of directors (WTA circuit number), but I didn’t get one. No answer, nothing, just silence” – Marta Kostyuk.

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Recently, Marta refused to shake hands with the Russian players she met at the competition, Varvara Grachova and Anastasia Potapova. The latter wore a T-shirt of Moscow “Spartacus” in Indian Wells, and after the victory over Kostyuk in Miami, she commented on the gesture of the Ukrainian.

“I expected it. Obviously it’s his choice, there’s nothing I can do about it. I’m here to play tennis, to forget about other things” – Anastasia Potapova.

>> Anastasia Potapova and the scandalous gesture in Indian Wells