Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk has moved into the semi-finals of the French Open for the first time in her career and immediately turned the spotlight on the war in her homeland. After defeating fellow Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, the world number 15 dedicated her victory to the Ukrainian people and their resilience.
We had a very difficult night again in Ukraine, especially in Kyiv, Kostyuk said after her win. So many people dead and I want to give this match to Ukrainian people and to their resilience. Her comments came in the wake of a massive Russian strike that killed seven people and injured 90 in the Ukrainian capital.
Kostyuk did not hold back in criticising Russian tennis players for their silence on the war. I do not know how you can sleep at night peacefully when you know that this is going on and you have nothing to say about it, she told reporters in a pointed message to her Russian competitors.
She singled out Australian citizen Daria Kasatkina as an example of a player who has turned her back on Russia, implying that more Russian players should follow suit in publicly opposing the invasion of Ukraine.
Kostyuk's next opponent will be Russian Mira Andreeva in what promises to be one of the most politically charged semi-finals in recent tennis history. Andreeva, for her part, said she would not be distracted by the geopolitical dimension of the match.
For me it does not matter who I play, I really try to play against the ball that is coming at me, Andreeva said. The young Russian acknowledged she learned from last year's experience when the crowd turned against her during a loss to French player Louise Boisson.
The clash between Kostyuk and Andreeva on the clay courts of Roland Garros encapsulates the broader tensions that the war in Ukraine has brought to international sport. With the conflict showing no signs of ending, athletes from both nations continue to navigate the intersection of sport and geopolitics on the world stage.