Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk defeated Elina Svitolina at Roland Garros and will face Russia’s Mila Andreeva in the semifinals.
Published June 2, 2026
Marta Kostyuk, who reached her first Grand Slam semi-final at Roland Garros, criticized Russian players for their silence about the Ukraine war, saying she had shown “which side we are on” after four years of conflict.
The 23-year-old defeated fellow Ukrainian Elina Svitolina 6-3 2-6 6-2 in an emotional quarter-final on Tuesday, playing hours after Russia bombed Kiev and then launched a scathing attack on Russian players who continue to avoid publicly condemning the war.
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Kostyuk, who will next face Russia’s Mila Andreeva, said she could no longer accept the argument that Russian athletes could remain silent due to possible domestic repercussions.
“Even if we don’t agree, there is a way,” Kostyuk told reporters. “I know people who left Russia the moment the war started, sold all their businesses and left everything behind because they did not agree with what their country was doing to other countries.”
She cited fellow player Daria Kasatkina, who switched allegiance from Russia to Australia last year, as an example of someone who spoke out publicly despite pressure on her family.
“I don’t think she lives in Russia anyway, but most of the players don’t live in Russia,” Kostyuk said. “If this is something you don’t believe in, there’s nothing stopping you.
“After four years, I think they’ve made it very clear which side they’re on.”
Kostyuk’s comments came after he was asked about previous statements by Russian athletes, including Diana Schneider and Andreeva, who said they focused solely on the tennis ball and avoided political discussion.
“They’re all adults. They know what they’re talking about. They know what’s going on. They have phones. They have Instagram. They have news,” Kostyuk said.
“I wish there was a clearer position on what’s going on, especially when your country is killing other people.”
Earlier, the Ukrainian athlete dedicated his victory to the “Ukrainian people” after revealing he woke up to the news of another dangerous night of bombing before checking on the safety of his family.
Kostyuk said representing Ukraine became more important than the result itself.
“No matter what happens, it’s really a blessing for me to be here and I’m not thinking about winning,” she said. “I came here to represent Ukraine and have fun.”
