In 2022, the Russian invasion of Ukraine sent shockwaves across the world, coinciding with the arrival of tennis players at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. Three years later, the conflict persists, and Ukrainian player Marta Kostyuk reflects on what it means to compete in the United States amid shifting political tensions and ongoing struggles at home.
Kostyuk has remained one of the most outspoken voices on the issue. Following the Ukrainian’s commanding 6-1 6-3 victory over wildcard Robin Montgomery in the second round of the BNP Paribas Open, an American reporter—prefacing his question with the clarification that he does not align with current U.S. policy—asked the 22-year-old if she found it a strange time to be in the United States.
The world No. 24 drew a sharp contrast between her interactions with American and Russian peers. In response to Washington’s recent wavering on Ukraine support, she shared, “I got a lot of messages from the people that I know from the U.S. that are following the news and everything. I got a lot of messages and a lot of apologies, which was amazing to receive.” Reflecting on the lack of acknowledgment from Russian players when the war began, she added, “You never know how people deal with certain situations and how they react…
