Because of the Russia-Ukraine war, since the 2024 Paris Olympics, athletes from Russia have not been competing in the Games under their own flag. Instead, if they participated, they were Individual Neutral Athletes. Now, that will change.
The International Olympic Committee has decided to lift its provisional ban on Russia, opening the door for the neutral status of the players to be dropped. That move isn't making Marta Kostyuk happy.
The Wimbledon semifinalist (she lost in the round to Czechia's Linda Noskova) was asked about the IOC's recent decision after she won her quarterfinal match. Kostyuk made her stance clear, and she issued a warning to any Russian players she might take on in the next Olympics, which will be held in Los Angeles in 2028.
Marta Kostyuk weighs in on the IOC's recent decision regarding Russia
Speaking in her post-match press conference, Kostyuk said, "My thoughts are that (what the IOC decided is) terrible. I think it's very, very far from fair play for all the countries involved here, not just for Ukraine. I 100 percent don't agree with this decision... I just want to go out there and hopefully beat every single Russian I play in the Olympics."
The player understands firsthand the brutality of the war. Recently, Russian bombs were dropped on an area close to where Kostyuk's parents live. Every Ukrainian would have been negatively affected by the Russian invasion, which initially occurred in February 2022.
In tennis terms, the two countries have a strong rivalry, as Kostyuk, after her run at Wimbledon, is inching closer to the top 10. Ukrainian Elina Svitolina is already in the top 10. Four Russians, including WTA No. 5 Mirra Andreeva, are ranked inside the top 20.
The top-ranked player on the WTA tour is Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka. As Belarus has supported Russia in its war efforts, that nation has also not had representatives compete under their flag at the Olympics.
No Ukrainians or Russians are involved in the rest of Wimbledon on either the women's or men's side. The ladies' final will feature two Czech players, Karolina Muchova, who defeated American Coco Gauff in the semifinals, and Linda Noskova. Neither has won the grass-court major before.
The men's semifinals are set for Friday. Those matches will see German Alexander Zverev play home-nation favorite Arthur Fery in one semi, and seven-time Wimbledon winner Novak Djokovic from Serbia play 2025 winner Jannik Sinner of Italy in the other.
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