Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk has expressed strong disapproval of the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) provisional lifting of Russia's suspension from the Olympic Games. The decision, announced just a day before Kostyuk's Wimbledon semi-final match, paves the way for Russian athletes to compete in the upcoming Los Angeles Olympics.
Kostyuk, who reached her first Wimbledon semi-final after defeating Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 6-2, described the IOC's move as "terrible" and a departure from fair play. "I don't think anything is going to change. I just want to go out there and hopefully beat every single Russian I play in the Olympics, and that's it," she stated.
The Wimbledon semi-finalist shared her personal connection to the ongoing conflict, recalling a previous incident where she displayed images of her parents' home in Kyiv damaged by a Russian missile. She noted the recent escalation of attacks on residential buildings near her parents' home, which resulted in civilian casualties.
"It's not easy to disconnect entirely," Kostyuk said regarding the impact of the attacks on her focus. "Every day is different. I cope with it as it goes."
Kostyuk's progress to the Wimbledon semi-finals marks a significant achievement, making her the second Ukrainian player in history, after Elina Svitolina, to reach that stage at the tournament. Her current form shows 22 wins in her last 23 matches, with her sole recent defeat occurring in the semi-finals of Roland Garros.
She is set to face Czech player Linda Noskova in the semi-final. Noskova secured her place by defeating Elise Mertens 6-3, 7-6, demonstrating a strong performance throughout the match.
Kostyuk indicated that she would raise her concerns with the International Tennis Federation.