In 2022, the Russian invasion of Ukraine sent shockwaves across the world, coinciding with the arrival of tennis players at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. Three years later, the conflict persists, and Ukrainian player Marta Kostyuk reflects on what it means to compete in the United States amid shifting political tensions and ongoing struggles at home.
Kostyuk has remained one of the most outspoken voices on the issue. Following the Ukrainian’s commanding 6-1 6-3 victory over wildcard Robin Montgomery in the second round of the BNP Paribas Open, an American reporter—prefacing his question with the clarification that he does not align with current U.S. policy—asked the 22-year-old if she found it a strange time to be in the United States.
The world No. 24 drew a sharp contrast between her interactions with American and Russian peers. In response to Washington’s recent wavering on Ukraine support, she shared, “I got a lot of messages from the people that I know from the U.S. that are following the news and everything. I got a lot of messages and a lot of apologies, which was amazing to receive.” Reflecting on the lack of acknowledgment from Russian players when the war began, she added, “You never know how people deal with certain situations and how they react because when the war started, none of the Russian players approached.”
For Kostyuk, the warmth she receives from everyday Americans stands in stark contrast to her feelings toward the government’s shifting stance: “It’s incredible to see that people still support Ukraine… Whenever you say you’re from Ukraine, everyone says, ‘Oh my God, we are so sorry.’ I haven’t received any negative comments or any negativity from people here.”
Navigating adulthood in the midst of war has given the Ukrainian a profound perspective, both internally and toward her colleagues: “Everyone is going through something in their lives, whether there is war or some of their relatives are not feeling well or dying, or problems in the family or some problems with the health. Everyone is dealing with something, it’s very important to put everything that’s outside of the court aside and go out there and do the job that you are doing.”
She also shared a Ukrainian saying that loosely translates to: “Everything will be fine, and if it’s not fine, then it means it’s not the end.” These have become her words to live by, as she navigates having to focus on the tennis court, while her family resides in Kyiv.
Now into the third round of the BNP Paribas Open, the 18th-seeded Kostyuk will next face another American wildcard, Caroline Dolehide.
Hypocrisy at its finest