24 March 2023 , 11:47
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A Ukrainian tennis star refused to shake the hand of her Russian opponent as tensions continue to rise amid the ongoing war.
Marta Kostyuk declined to shake hands with opponent Anastasia Potapova when the pair met in the Miami Open second round. Their match came after Potapova was warned by the WTA for turning up to her Indian Wells match against Jessica Pegula while wearing a Spartak Moscow football shirt.
Since Ukraine was invaded last year tennis stars from Russia and their allies Belarus have been allowed to continue playing under a neutral banner. However, tensions amongst players from the nations are rising and Kostyuk refuses to shake the hands of her Russian opponents.
The world No.38 has also made a claim about the WTA who are coming under increasing pressure from Ukrainian players. This comes after Ukrainian professional Lesia Tsurenko pulled out of her Indian Wells match against Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka after suffering 'panic attacks' - following a discussion with the WTA CEO Steve Simon about the ongoing war in her home nation.
Kostyuk has made her own claim about the organising body. She said: "We wanted to have the meeting and we didn't get one. No reply. Nothing. Just a silence.
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“There are a lot of things that I don't agree with that WTA is doing." Speaking about the sanction against Potapova she added: "Warning? Whatever. You give her a warning. Do you want to suspend someone? I don't know. I can't comment on that really. It's just funny.”
Ukraine tennis star Marta Kostyuk has spoken out about the WTA (AP)Should athletes from Russia and Belarus be banned from competing in international sport? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section
After refusing to shake hands with her Russian opponents Kostyuk says she is 'not friends' with her competitors. She added: "I might not say 'Hi' to some players, but I never approached anyone," she told the Daily Mail.
"Maybe I myself spread hate just by being there. I don't know when people come out with that. But obviously there is tension - we're not friends. We are at war at the moment."
Anastasia Potapova was warned by the WTA for wearing a Spartak Moscow football shirt before her Indian Wells Masters match (Getty Images)Meanwhile, Potapova has spoken out about having a warning from the WTA for wearing a Russian football shirt at Indian Wells earlier this month.
She added: "There was not any political intention in this shirt.
“It's very sad that people seeing things that isn't actually the truth. I'm just a super fan of Spartak since I was 10 years old. My dad built part of the stadium for this team, so it's our family thing.”