After her loss to world No.4 Elena Rybakina in the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix final, world No.21 Marta Kostyuk stirred up discussion for her comments about the varying difficulties in draws across events on the tennis calendar and her perspective on the significance of other players’ results.
Speaking to the press in Stuttgart, Kostyuk’s comments reignited the enduring debate in tennis regarding the differing levels of competition across various tournaments. The Ukrainian, who defeated three Top-10 players en route to the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix final, highlighted the unpredictable nature of tennis. She emphasized that while she could face the highest-ranked players in a 500-level event, other players might reach the final of a Grand Slam without facing a Top-50 opponent, citing Zheng Qinwen’s run at the Australian Open as an example.
While Kostyuk’s comments sparked discussion among tennis fans, some criticized her for publicly undermining her peers’ achievements. They argued that while it’s valid to discuss the differences in draw difficulty, it’s not necessary to call out specific players and belittle their accomplishments.
Marta Kostyuk on differences between Slams & other tournaments
Tennis is different…
