TENNIS: “Whose side are they on?” Ukraine's Kostyuk rips into Russian players at Roland Garros

PARIS — Marta Kostyuk accused Russian players of hiding behind silence over the war in Ukraine on Tuesday, saying that after more than two years of conflict, they have shown "whose side they are on" as she reached her first Grand Slam semifinal at the French Open.

The 23-year-old beat fellow Ukrainian Elina Svitolina 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 in an emotional quarterfinal played hours after another night of Russian strikes on Kyiv. Following her victory, she launched a scathing attack on Russian players who continue to avoid publicly condemning the war.

Kostyuk, who will next face Russian Mirra Andreeva, said she no longer accepts the argument that Russian athletes must remain silent because of potential repercussions at home.

"There is a way if you don’t agree," Kostyuk told reporters. "I know some people who left Russia the moment the war began, who sold all their businesses, who left everything behind because they just don’t agree with what their country is doing to other people."

She cited fellow player Daria Kasatkina, who switched her allegiance from Russia to Australia, as an example of someone who has publicly spoken out despite the pressure on her family.

"I don’t think she lives in Russia anyway, but the majority of players don’t live in Russia," Kostyuk said. "There is nothing that’s stopping you if this is something you don’t believe in. After more than two years, I think they’ve made it very clear whose side they are on."

Kostyuk’s comments came after she was asked about remarks from Russian players, including Diana Shnaider and Andreeva, who have previously said they focus only on the tennis ball and avoid political discussion.

"They are all grownups. They know what they’re talking about. They know what’s going on. They have phones. They have Instagram. They have news," Kostyuk said. "I wish there was a clearer stance on what’s going on, especially when your country is killing other people."

Earlier, the Ukrainian dedicated her victory to "the Ukrainian people" after revealing she had woken up to news of another deadly night of bombings before checking on her family’s safety.

Kostyuk emphasized that representing Ukraine has become far more important than the tournament results themselves.

"With everything that’s happening, for me, being here is a real blessing, and I don’t think about winning," she said. "I’m here to represent Ukraine and to enjoy."

-Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Pritha Sarkar/Reuters