UKRAINIAN tennis star Marta Kostyuk refused to congratulate Belarusian rival Aryna Sabalenka after their Brisbane final.
World No1 Sabalenka, 27, began her 2026 season by successfully defending her Brisbane title.
Following her 6-4 6-3 defeat, Kostyuk did not shake her opponent’s hand.
This has been a consistent position taken by most Ukrainian players towards Russians and Belarusians since the war began in their homeland.
In her post-match speech, Kostyuk began by thanking the tournament’s organisers, staff members, ball kids and crowds.
She then paid emotional tribute to those suffering back in Ukraine, without specifically congratulating her victorious opponent as is customary.
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The world No26 said: “I want to say a few words about Ukraine. I play every day with a pain in my heart.
“There are thousands of people who are without light and warm water right now, it is -20ºC outside right now, so it is very, very painful to live this reality every day.
“It’s very hot here in Brisbane so it’s difficult to imagine this but my sister is sleeping under three blankets because of how cold it is at home.
“I was incredibly moved and happy to see so many Ukrainian fans and flags here this week… slava Ukraini (glory to Ukraine).”
Kostyuk did then add: “I want to thank all of the opponents I’ve played this week, you guys made me better, you guys push me to be better every week, every day and I’m very happy to be on this journey.
“I want to thank my team. I’m sorry I lost another final!”
She then thanked her husband, before again repeating “slava Ukraini”.
Sabalenka did congratulate Kostyuk on her tennis and even added that she hopes they meet again in more finals this season.
Kostyuk did nod in appreciation of this comment.
Later quizzed about Kostyuk not shaking hands with her, Sabalenka said: “It’s their position. What can I do? I don’t mind that.
“I don’t care about that. When I go into the match, it’s all about tennis and sport.
“When I go out there, I think about my tennis and think about what I have to do to get the win.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s Marta Kostyuk or Jessica Pegula. I still go out there and try my best and fight for the trophy. I have nothing to prove. I go out there and compete as an athlete.”
Sabalenka celebrated her win by kissing her biceps.
It was initially speculated that this may have been a nod to Kostyuk’s interview last year, in which she said “some have a higher level of testosterone” before saying that Sabalenka was “much bigger than me, much taller than me, much stronger than me”.
Kostyuk clarified after the interview with Tennis365 that her comments had been taken wildly out of context.
And Sabalenka denied that the celebration was a nod to the interview, instead saying: “I was just making fun with my team.”
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