Daria Kasatkina defends Marta Kostyuk after controversy at the French Open.

In the epicenter of the controversy shaking the world of tennis, Daria Kasatkina stands in defense of Ukrainian player Marta Kostyuk, who faced fierce criticism after refusing to shake hands with Russian player Mirra Andreeva at the 2026 French Open. This refusal, which reignited political tensions in sports, is linked to Kostyuk’s strong opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and her decision to boycott any contact with Russian or Belarusian players since 2022.

The young Ukrainian tennis player, a semifinalist at Roland Garros, did not adhere to the usual protocol after her defeat in two sets against Andreeva, limiting herself to a distant acknowledgment, an attitude that divided opinions and sparked an intense debate among fans and experts. The controversy erupted when a fan questioned Kasatkina about Kostyuk’s well-being, to which the Russian-Australian responded: “For the past few months, everything has been great with her. And how about you?”

This response generated surprise and indignation among some fans, who expected a clearer support for Andreeva, a young player seemingly oblivious to the war that has plagued Ukraine since her adolescence. One fan argued that Kostyuk’s stance, refusing handshakes, contributes little to the end of the conflict, emphasizing that the young Russian was only 14 years old when the war began and could do nothing to influence it.

Kasatkina, refusing to get involved in the attack, questioned the relevance of including Andreeva in the discussion: “What does Mirra have to do with this?” she asked, redirecting the focus to Kostyuk’s situation. The fan responded that the debate was precisely about Kostyuk’s constant criticisms of the supposed “silence” of Russian and Belarusian players regarding the war, including Andreeva, and expressed confusion over the demand for public statements from athletes without political influence.

In response, Kasatkina clarified that her message had no political intent: “This post contains no political message. I simply could not let a stupid comment from a ‘sports journalist’ directed at a female athlete go unanswered.”

It is worth noting that Marta Kostyuk had previously refused to shake hands with Andreeva after defeating the young player at the Madrid Open, maintaining her firm stance against opponents from Russia and Belarus. However, Kostyuk chose to extend a gesture of courtesy to Kasatkina, who changed her nationality to Australian in 2025 and has publicly spoken out against the war.

“The only person I shake hands with is Daria Kasatkina, because she not only changed her passport but also openly stated that she does not support the war and everything else. That’s why I and other players decided to shake her hand, out of respect,” Kostyuk explained. She also highlighted that several players have changed their nationality, but none have taken a clear stance against the war, which is why, for her, this does not change her attitude.

This episode reveals the deep tensions that the war continues to provoke in the international tennis landscape, where politics and sport inevitably intertwine, placing athletes in a delicate position between their personal convictions and the demands of fair play. Kasatkina’s unwavering defense of Kostyuk offers a new perspective on the courage and controversy surrounding these young athletes, as the tennis world eagerly follows the next chapters of this conflict off the courts.

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