Controversy at the Madrid Open: Alex Dolgopolov defends Marta Kostyuk.

At the center of the controversy that rocked the 2026 Madrid Open, the women’s final between Marta Kostyuk and Mirra Andreeva ended in shock both on and off the courts. The young Russian Andreeva lost in two sets to the Ukrainian Kostyuk, but what ignited social media the most was the absence of the traditional handshake—a gesture that symbolizes much more than a sporting protocol at a time when the conflict between Russia and Ukraine is also reflected in sports.

Alex Dolgopolov, former world number 13 in the ATP and ex-Ukrainian star, did not hesitate to attack Mirra Andreeva on social media, denouncing shocking links between the Russian player and Vladimir Putin through social media interactions. “Congratulations to Marta, well deserved! First, her opponent likes posts about Putin, then her fans pretend she is gracious in her speech and hate Marta 🤡 What a fun Saturday night,” Dolgopolov wrote on X (formerly Twitter), alluding to the Russian’s controversial preferences on Instagram.

This is not the first time Mirra Andreeva has been embroiled in accusations of supporting pro-Russian and pro-Putin content, especially since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Between 2023 and 2024, several reports emerged indicating that the young Russian had liked multiple posts that exalted the figure of the Russian president. The situation had already provoked reactions from other Ukrainian players, such as Dayana Yastremska, who called for action from the WTA against Andreeva.

Dolgopolov’s criticisms did not go unnoticed and sparked a strong reaction from fans of Mirra Andreeva, who quickly attacked the former Ukrainian tennis player. “What a surprise, bringing politics into sports 🤡,” wrote one follower. “Hahaha, a 19-year-old provoking you? You’re such a crybaby. Did she like that post when she was 15 or 16? Ridiculous,” defended another. There were also those who insisted that the blame could lie with the young Russian’s communication team and not with her directly: “She was 15 when someone from her media team liked that post, not her. Defending your country is normal, but spreading this against a teenager is too much.”

Despite the media whirlwind, the undeniable truth is that Marta Kostyuk has won her first WTA 1000 title and is set to rise to 15th place in the world ranking, moving up from 23rd. For her part, Mirra Andreeva, even with the loss, also climbs in the rankings, reaching 7th place in the world hierarchy.

This episode at the Madrid Open reflects the political tensions now invading the world of tennis, putting the delicate line between sports and diplomacy to the test. While Marta Kostyuk maintains her firm stance and represents Ukrainian pride, Mirra Andreeva faces public scrutiny for her controversial connections. The near future promises more battles both on and off the courts, where rackets and social media intersect in an explosive dispute.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.