Tennis star Marta Kostyuk has revealed she will continue to refuse to shake the hand of Russian and Belarusian stars who have failed to properly condemn the invasion of Ukraine. Kostyuk is in action at the Australian Open amid the ongoing war in her home country.
The Ukrainian began her tournament with victory on Monday, defeating Amanda Anisimova in straight sets to book a spot in the second round. Despite recent sanctions within sport, Russian and Belarusian competitors have been allowed to compete in Melbourne.
Despite being able to enter the Grand Slam, they are forced to play under a neutral flag, which has seen been seen across the tournament's TV coverage.
Ukrainian national Kostyuk believes that as long as Russian and Belarusian competitors speak out against their nations' actions, they should be allowed to continue to enter events. But the 20-year-old slammed those who failed to condemn the invasion as 'inhumane'.
She said: "Whoever speaks out clearly I believe has every right to be on tour but whoever doesn't… I don't think it's just humane... I don't really talk to anyone [Russian and Belarusian competitors] I barely say 'hi' to them."
Controversy surrounding the Russian-Ukrainian relations heightened at the Grand Slam on Monday, after the flag of Russia was pictured in the crowd of a round one match between Ukraine's Kateryna Baindl and Russian Kamilla Rakhimova.
Calling on the tournament organisers to take action, the Ukrainian ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko tweeted: "I strongly condemn the public display of the Russian flag during the game of the Ukrainian tennis player Kateryna Baindl at the Australian Open today.
"I call on Tennis Australia to immediately enforce its “neutral flag” policy." The event in Melbourne will not be the first time Kostyuk has snubbed a handshake, after the 20-year-old refused against Belarusian Victoria Azarenka after at the US Open last September.
