Marta Kostyuk Criticizes US Open for Using Russian Flag, Sparks Controversy

The Ukrainian tennis player's comments on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and her stance on Russian and Belarusian athletes stir debate, even as she advances to the Australian Open quarter-finals.

• Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk criticizes the US Open for using a Russian flag in a social media post about her match against Russia's Maria Timofeeva, deviating from the standard approach of not using Russian or Belarusian flags since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
• Kostyuk, who has been vocal about banning Russian and Belarusian athletes, accuses the sports world of promoting a 'murderous country' and using its athletes as part of its propaganda.
• The US Open's post has since been deleted, and the controversy adds to a number of moments that have sparked tensions in tennis due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
• Kostyuk's comments have sparked backlash from fans, who accuse her of hypocrisy for reportedly sharing pro-Israel posts amid the Israel-Palestine conflict.
• Despite the controversy, Kostyuk advances to her first ever major quarter-final at the Australian Open, where she will face American Coco Gauff.

3 Articles

Sportskeeda Sportskeeda The Telegraph