For Marta Kostyuk, her first WTA 1000 final will go beyond the tennis court
Marta Kostyuk has reached her first WTA 1000 final at the Madrid Open, marking a significant milestone in her career after winning a title in Rouen two weeks prior. Her final against Mirra Andreeva will be notable not only for its sporting stakes but also for the ongoing political context surrounding Ukrainian players' refusal to shake hands with Russian and Belarusian opponents. Kostyuk emphasized that her stance remains firm, with Daria Kasatkina being the only Russian player she will shake hands with due to her public opposition to the war in Ukraine.
- ▪Marta Kostyuk reached her first WTA 1000 final at the 2026 Madrid Open, where she will face Mirra Andreeva.
- ▪Kostyuk won the WTA 250 Rouen Open title two weeks before her Madrid final appearance.
- ▪Ukrainian players, including Kostyuk, do not shake hands with Russian or Belarusian players due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
- ▪Kostyuk makes an exception for Daria Kasatkina, who has publicly opposed the war and is respected for her stance.
- ▪Anastasia Potapova, whom Kostyuk defeated in the semifinals, switched her tennis nationality to Austria but has not expressed opposition to the war.
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