Kostyuk Praises Kasatkina After Italian Open Victory

Rome, Italy – Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk shook hands with Daria Kasatkina after defeating her 6-4, 6-2 in the second round at the Italian Open on Friday. This moment marked a significant gesture, as Kostyuk has refused to shake hands with Russian or Belarusian opponents as a protest against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Kostyuk, ranked 27th in the world, acknowledged Kasatkina’s courage in switching her national allegiance from Russia to Australia. Kasatkina, who has vocally criticized Russia’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws and the ongoing war, took permanent residency in Australia earlier this year. “It’s always nice to shake hands with someone I respect,” Kostyuk said after the match.

Before the match, Kostyuk expressed her sentiments on Instagram, stating, “When someone not only tells the truth – calling Russia the aggressor – but also acts on it, that deserves respect.” She emphasized her hope that Kasatkina would continue to advocate for peace now that she has the freedom to do so.

Kasatkina, currently ranked 15th in the world, has not visited Russia in more than two and a half years. She articulated the difficulty of her decision to change allegiance, citing the political climate and her identity as an openly gay athlete. “With everything going on in my previous country, I didn’t have much choice,” she noted.

The Italian Open marks Kasatkina’s third tournament under the Australian flag. Despite her commitment to her new identity, her performance has faced challenges, with a current record of two wins and three losses representing Australia.

Following Kostyuk’s win, other matches continued at the Foro Italico courts, including world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka dominating Anastasia Potapova with a 6-2, 6-2 victory. Coco Gauff also battled to secure her place, overcoming Canadian qualifier Victoria Mboko in three sets.