At the WTA event in Austin, Marta Kostyuk gives herself the first joy of the year. In the US WTA 250, the Ukrainian got a victory against the Russian Varvera Gracheva: 6-3, 7-5 to obtain the first title of the season and of her career.
A final which, however, is followed by an equally symbolic episode. At the moment of the match point, Kostyuk collapses to the ground, about to shed tears of joy; she then she gets up and goes to shake the chair umpire’s hand.
In this interlude, no handshake with the opponent: a gesture conditioned by the geopolitical situation, with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. She doesn’t end here, however, in Austin. In the photos and videos of the award ceremony, Gracheva’s presence is not noticed; only Kostyuk, her prize and the organizers of the tournament.
It is not the first episode of its kind involving the Ukrainian tennis player. The same scenario was seen in the second round of the Us Open, defeated by the Belarusian Viktoria Azarenka. A gesture that didn’t upset the Grand Slam champion in that case: “She didn’t surprise me, to tell the truth, even if I don’t think it’s important, there’s no need to make a drama out of it.
You have to go on, I can’t force anyone to shake my hand, it’s their decision. Did it make me feel bad? Let’s just say…
