Ukrainian tennis star Kostyuk snubs Russian player in public photo incident: Video
Photo: Marta Kostyuk made it to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open (Getty Images)
Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk, ahead of the Round of 16 at the Australian Open, broke with the customary ritual of photographing with opponents. The Kyiv native declined to stand alongside the neutral Russian player Maria Timofeeva, according to Ukrainian Tennis.
A notable incident occurred before the start of the 4th round match at the Australian Open. The Ukrainian player declined to take a joint photo with Moscow-born Maria Timofeeva.
During the pre-match briefing, Kostyuk informed the referee, Mariana Velovich, that she would not be taking a photo with Timofeeva. The Serbian referee calmly reacted to the position of the Ukrainian tennis player. Ultimately, Kostyuk and Timofeeva took separate photos with the girl conducting the draw.
The symbolic "snub" for the representative of the neutral-status aggressor country did not go unnoticed. The Ukrainian confidently dealt with Timofeeva in two sets, conceding only three games (6:2, 6:1). In her first-ever Grand Slam quarterfinal, Kostyuk will face American Gauff on January 23.
By the way, on the eve, Yastremska defeated American Navarro on her way to the 1/8 final of the major.
