Ukrainian Tennis Player Marta Kostyuk Struggles With Family’s Plight Amidst Australian Open Success

Marta Kostyuk, the talented Ukrainian tennis player, has been facing a significant challenge amidst her success at the Australian Open. Currently ranked 35th in the world, Kostyuk has displayed exceptional resilience by winning all her matches in three sets so far.

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In the Round of 128, Kostyuk overcame American player Claire Liu, followed by a remarkable comeback win against Germany’s Elise Mertens in the Round of 64. Showing her mental fortitude, Kostyuk fought back from being one set down to defeat Elina Avanesyan. However, her passionate stance against Russia led to her refusal to shake hands with Avanesyan, expressing her solidarity with her home country.

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Maria Timofeeva, a 20-year-old Russian player, has also made waves in the tournament. Although she had to win two qualifying matches initially, Timofeeva surprised everyone by defeating French star Alize Cornet and 2018 Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki. In the third round, she continued her outstanding performance with a victory over 10th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia.

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The impending match between Kostyuk and Timofeeva is expected to be a fiery clash, potentially extending to three sets. The SportsRush predicts a marginally favorable outcome for Timofeeva with a 51-49 win probability.

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The live streaming of the match can be accessed on ESPN+ in the United States and 9Now in Australia. Viewers in the US can also tune in to ESPN 2 for broadcasting.

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If Kostyuk emerges victorious, she stands to earn $250,000 USD from the tournament. Furthermore, the winner will advance to the quarterfinals and secure a minimum of $367,000 USD in prize money. Timofeeva’s career earnings currently amount to a modest $183,358 USD, while Kostyuk has amassed an impressive $3,238,278 USD.

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The winner of this match could potentially face one of the tournament’s favorites, reigning US Open champion Coco Gauff, in the quarterfinals.