Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk shook hands with Daria Kasatkina after the victory of direct sets over the former Russian at the Italian open on Friday.
Kostyuk, in the 27th place in the world, defeated Kasatkin 6-4, 6-2 in the second round of the tournament. But it was Handshake on the net – a gesture that was constantly retaining the Russian and Belarusian opponents from the Russian invasion of Ukraine in full in 2022 – which attracted immediate attention.
Kasatkina, now a contestant under an Australian flag, is one of the few former Russian players who publicly condemned the war. In 2022 she came as gay and has not returned to Russia since then, quoting the increasingly repressive climate of the country.
Kostyuk acknowledged the importance of Kasatk’s attitude in a report published on Instagram after the match.
“Since the beginning of the war, I decided not to shake my hands with Russian or Belarusian players,” she wrote. “But if someone not only tells the truth – calls Russia an aggressor – but also acts at him, it deserves respect.”
“Daria Kasatkina clearly opposed the war and decided to give up her Russian sporting citizenship. It requires courage – and I admit it,” Kostyuk added. “I hope this is not the last step, but part of a deeper commitment. I stand with Ukraine. I consider the truth, dignity and for those who choose to speak and act – if it stays quiet, it would be easier.”
Kasatkina, currently in 15th place in the world, was an open critic of Moscow events in Ukraine and her decision to change loyalty is considered a rare and bold step in the world of Russian sports, where disagreement often encounters severe consequences.
Kostyuk will face the Canadian Leylah Annie Fernandez in the third round.
Published:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
10 May 2025
