Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk refused to shake hands with her Russian opponent Varvara Gracheva after claiming victory in the final of the ATX Open in Austin, Texas
Kostyuk defeated Gracheva 6-3 7-5, collapsing to the court after converting match point, before refusing to shake hands with the Russian. The 20-year-old, who is from Kyiv, said at January’s Australian Open that she would not shake hands with any Russian or Belarusian opponent with war raging in her country. She refused to shake hands with Victoria Azarenka of Belarus at the US Open in September last year. Belarus is being used as a key staging ground for Russia’s war in Ukraine.
“Being in the position that I am in right now, it’s extremely special to win this title,” Kostyuk said. “And I want to dedicate this title to Ukraine and to all the people that are fighting and dying right now.” Kostyuk did not acknowledge the beaten finalist in her acceptance speech. The tournament win, the first for a Ukrainian woman since Elina Svitolina in 2021, elevated Kostyuk to No. 40 in the WTA rankings.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Russian shelling hits Ukrainian town; Bakhmut battle ragesKYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian shelling destroyed homes and killed one person in northern Ukraine's Kharkiv province, the region's governor said Sunday, while fighting raged in the fiercely contested eastern city of Bakhmut .
Read more »
Kostyuk, Gracheva beat Americans in Austin for 1st WTA finalMarta Kostyuk and Varvara Gracheva each reached her first WTA final by beating an American at the ATX Open on Saturday.
Read more »
Russia's Wagner boss publishes video showing coffins of dead Ukrainian troops being shipped homeYevgeny Prigozhin, founder of Russia's Wagner Group mercenary force, published a video on Saturday showing what he said were coffins containing bodies of Ukrainian soldiers being repatriated to territory held by Kyiv.
Read more »
Civilians flee embattled town as Ukrainian pullout loomsPressure mounted Saturday on Ukrainian troops and civilians hunkering down in Bakhmut, as Kyiv’s forces tried to help residents flee amid what Western analysts say may be preparations for a Ukrainian withdrawal from the eastern city that Russian forces have spent months trying to capture.
Read more »
Civilians flee embattled town as Ukrainian pullout loomsA woman was killed and two men were badly wounded by shelling while trying to cross a makeshift bridge out of Bakhmut on Saturday.
Read more »
Civilians flee embattled town as Ukrainian pullout loomsPressure is mounting on Ukrainian troops holding out in the eastern city of Bakhmut. The Ukrainian army is trying to help civilians flee the city, which Russian forces have spent months trying to c…
Read more »