Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk refused to shake hands with Russian tennis player Anastasia Potapova at the Miami Open tournament after she was defeated 6-1, 6-3.
Marta Kostyuk, who had also previously refused to shake hands with fellow Russian Varvara Gracheva and Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, said “there is clearly tension” between the tennis players. “We are not friends. Right now we are at war”he stressed.
It’s not the first time the tension of war has impacted the tennis world. Recently, Anastasia Potapova was warned by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) for coming to their match against Jessica Pegula wearing a Spartak Moscow football team shirt.
When asked about the warning given to Potapova, Marta Kostyuk said: “There are many things I disagree with with the WTA, but this will not change anything. I will only get more hate. online. Whatever you say, I’m going to get a lot of hate. They can give you a warning, they can suspend you, I don’t know. I can’t comment on this, it’s just funny.”
Anastasia Potapova, however, defended her choice to wear the jersey at Indian Wells earlier this month, saying “there was no political intent”. “It’s really sad that people see things that aren’t true. I’ve just been a super Spartak fan since I was 10. My dad built part of the team’s stadium, so it’s part of my family.” she admitted.
Source: DN
