Overview

• Marta Kostyuk defeated Daria Kasatkina 6-4, 6-2 in the Italian Open second round, marking her first handshake with a former Russian player since the war began.
• Kasatkina switched her national representation from Russia to Australia in March 2025, citing opposition to the invasion of Ukraine and Russia's anti-LGBTQ+ laws.
• Kostyuk praised Kasatkina's decision to renounce Russian citizenship and speak out against the war, calling it a courageous act deserving of respect.
• This symbolic handshake follows Kostyuk's long-standing protest of refusing handshakes with Russian or Belarusian players since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
• Kasatkina, who has not returned to Russia in over two years, continues her tennis career under the Australian flag, with a record of two wins and three losses since her switch.