Ukrainian tennis star Marta Kostyuk says war is incomprehensible to those untouched

Ukrainian WTA player Marta Kostyuk spoke to the press after her match at the Berlin tournament, saying, “Who has never lived through war cannot understand.” She described how daily Russian attacks since 2022 have disrupted her training, destroyed her base in Kyiv and kept her family close to the front line. Kostyuk said the conflict weighs on her mental health, noting she turned off phone notifications and attends therapy to manage stress.

Kostyuk, ranked No. 12, reiterated her support for a ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes, criticizing the tennis federation’s neutral stance. She highlighted her recent successes – a WTA 1000 title in Madrid, a WTA 250 win in Rouen and a semifinal at Roland Garros – while insisting every victory is dedicated to Ukraine. Her comments underscore the personal toll the war takes on athletes who try to compete on the global stage.