Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk celebrates her victory over Russian Mirra Andreeva during the women’s singles final of the Madrid Open on Saturday at the Caja Mágica in Madrid.
Sergio R. Viñas, Madrid
The world’s attention shifts rapidly from Ukraine to Palestine, Sudan to Iran, revealing a troubling aspect of modern society. Even the most harrowing dramas and brutal wars that devastate innocent lives eventually fade from public consciousness. We grow bored. That’s how it is.
But those who endure pain firsthand never turn the page. Marta Kostyuk (world No. 23) embodies this principle. The Ukrainian, previously considered a second-tier player with unfulfilled potential, made a firm decision long ago: she will not fake courtesy toward Russian opponents. No handshake with a rival who does not condemn the war. And on the biggest day of her young career, she made no exception.
Kostyuk celebrates her Mutua Madrid Open triumph.
Kostyuk surprised everyone by reaching the Madrid Masters 1000 final, winning in two sets (6-3, 7-5 in 1 hour 21 minutes) against 19-year-old Russian prodigy Mirra Andreeva (world No. 8). When the match ended, there was no greeting for Conchita Martínez’s protégé—neither before nor after. Nor did she extend a hand to Anastasiya Potapova in the semifinal, despite Potapova now competing under the Austrian flag.
“The only one I would greet is Daria Kasatkina. She changed her nationality and publicly stated she does not support the war. Other players have changed nationalities but have not expressed opposition to the war or support for the people of Ukraine. For me, that changes nothing,” Kostyuk explained before facing Potapova.
Kasatkina is a rare voice among Russian athletes. Openly lesbian, she has long condemned Putin’s crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights and the invasion of Ukraine. She now represents Australia. Andreeva, meanwhile, represents the majority of Russian athletes who, whether out of conviction or fear, refuse to denounce the Russian president.
Russian Mirra Andreeva returns a shot to Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk during the Madrid Open women’s singles final.
A history underlies this matchup. In late 2023, Kostyuk refused to play an exhibition final in France because Andreeva was her opponent. The decision forced organizers to find an amateur male player to avoid refunding ticket sales.
The final roles defied chronological logic. Nineteen-year-old Andreeva, already a two-time WTA 1000 champion, seemed the more experienced player. Kostyuk, 23, entered without a title and had only reached one prior WTA 1000 semifinal (Indian Wells 2024). But in the final, Kostyuk seized her moment. She dominated the first set by controlling long rallies, then fought through an evenly contested second set. She survived two set points and broke Andreeva’s serve to claim the biggest win of her career.
Kostyuk celebrates her Mutua Madrid Open victory.
Kostyuk marked her win with a backflip on the clay and acknowledged the chair umpire, but not Andreeva, who wept in disappointment. The tournament had launched Andreeva as a star in 2023, but this time Kostyuk stole the spotlight, shouting “Glory to Ukraine!” as she dedicated her triumph to her homeland.