Aryna Sabalenko said she doesn’t care if Ukrainian players hate her, and Marta Kostyuk reacted ahead of their Roland Garros first round meeting.

>> War in Ukraine, day 459. All events of Sunday, May 28 – LiveText on HotNews.ro.

Marta Kostyuk says that Aryna Sabalenko “refuses to call things names”

Ranked 39th in the WTA singles ranking (28th in doubles), Kostiuk explained in a long interview why she cannot respect the Australian Open champion.

“I come to the tournament and I want to win every match I play. The only thing I do is not shake hands with Russians and Belarusians. I have never told Aryna Sabalenko in any interview or personally that I hate her or anyone else.

I don’t know how to comment on her statements, I don’t understand why she said it. For me, this is not a debate about emotions, because hate is an emotion, it’s about respect.

First of all, I can’t respect her for that choice. He goes to train in Russia, communicates with the Russian press. He decided not to take his family out of these two aggressor states, despite the fact that he had the financial conditions to do so.

I couldn’t accept myself knowing that my country was attacking another country in this way and I was staying there while the people around me were living their lives, resting, enjoying themselves as before.

Secondly, for me, playing tennis is not only personal development, victory, comfort and help for the family. The main interest is to change something for the better.

After this tournament, Sabalenko could become the first racket of the world in such a popular sport. To have that kind of platform and that kind of influence in the world… and to give it up… What kind of message is that?

We talk about people being killed, and the answer is: don’t mix sports with politics. But war doesn’t choose whether you’re an athlete or not when your home is destroyed. It’s not about politics, it’s not about political elections, it’s not about laws or anything else.

War is war, and we all know how Russia and Belarus behave in this war with Ukraine, how they decide to shoot at civilians, how they take them prisoner, how they devastate their homes, how they kidnap and rape Ukrainian citizens.

This is genocide, this is not about politics. We are not here in kindergarten to talk about whether we love or hate someone. Loving or hating someone is an emotion.

Respect for someone is not an emotion. So I just can’t respect her position when it comes to world-changing events like war does. That’s all I can say” – Marta Kostyuk for BTU.org.ua.

What you need to know about Roland Garros 2023

• It will be the first time since 1998 that neither Roger Federer (retired) nor Rafael Nadal (injured after the Australian Open) will be on court in Paris.

• Other notable absentees from this year’s edition of the main event in Paris include Nick Kyrgios, Andy Murray, Matteo Berrettini, Marin Cilic and Pablo Carreño Busta.

• Simona Halep is also on the absentee list. Paris 2019 champion Simona is temporarily disqualified for doping.

Roland Garros 2023 (the second Grand Slam of the season) will be held from May 28 to June 11.

You may also be interested in:

>> Aryna Sabalenko, statements about the war in Ukraine and accusations against Lukashenka

>> Aryna Sabalenko reacted to the fact that Lukashenko set her as an example

>> Aryna Sabalenko and the message received after she spoke about the hatred directed at her in the WTA locker room​