the ukrainian Martha Kostyuk won her first WTA title this Sunday, the 250 in Austin, in a final that was marked by the cold relationship with her rival, the Russian Varvara Grachova. Without looking at the track draw, without greeting and without photos together, this is how a final was developed that culminated with some vindictive words from the winner to her country.
The happiest moment in the career of the 20-year-old tennis player will remain marked in her memory, perhaps, as one of the most tense matches of her career as a professional. A battle in which she prevailed 6-3 and 7-5, but which has gone beyond the mere result of the irrespirable pressure that was experienced in the duel between the Russian and the Ukrainian.
In the match there was no initial or final greeting, there were no joint photos of the finalists -they were taken separately- or mentions of the rival in the speeches, quite the opposite, generating a climate of tension that reached its maximum.
I want to dedicate this victory to Ukraine as everyone is still fighting there
“Being in the position I’m in right now, it becomes extremely special to win a title, I want to dedicate this victory to Ukraine, since they are all still fighting there and unfortunately many of them are still dying. Obviously, it is a very special moment, no matter when or where it happens, “she pointed out visibly emotional in front of her rival with the champion trophy in her hands.
Minutes earlier, after the last point, Kostyuk showed his contained emotion for the victory by throwing himself to the ground and bursting into tears without even thinking about going to the net to acknowledge his rival’s good play. The war in Ukraine moved to the American court in another episode of controversy over the war in the world of tennis.
