Marta Kostyuk has been vocal about her stance on Russian and Belarusian players since the war in Ukraine began. She has consistently refused to shake hands with them after matches, making a strong statement against Russia’s aggression. However, her recent handshake with Daria Kasatkina at the Italian Open was a notable exception.
Kasatkina, who was born in Russia, made the decision to switch her sporting nationality to Australia. Unlike many of her former compatriots, she has openly criticized Russia’s actions and expressed support for Ukraine. Kostyuk acknowledged this and explained that her handshake was a gesture of respect for Kasatkina’s courage in speaking out and taking action.
Kostyuk emphasized that silence in the face of injustice can be a form of complicity. She believes that sport should not be separated from humanity and that athletes have a responsibility to stand for truth and dignity. Her handshake with Kasatkina was not just about sportsmanship but about recognizing a player who has chosen to act rather than remain silent.
This moment at the Italian Open highlighted the complexities of politics in sports and the personal decisions athletes must make in response to global events. Kostyuk’s gesture showed that respect is earned through actions, and Kasatkina’s decision to distance herself from Russia was one she deemed worthy of acknowledgment.
This was her statement.
Daria Kasatkina in 2025
Ranked world no.15, Darya played her last match on the 9th of May when she lost to world no.27 Marta Kostyuk 6-4 6-2
in the 2nd round in Rome (draw).This season Kasatkina owns an overall 11-11 win-loss record.
Kostyuk in Rome, ranking, and results in 2025
Now ranked no.27, Kostyuk achieved an overall 16-10 win-loss record in 2025. Marta is participating in Rome where she ousted the world no.70 Alexandra Eala 6-0 6-1 and the world no.15 Daria Kasatkina 6-4 6-2.
Marta Kostyuk will compete against the world no.26 Leylah Fernandez in the 3rd round. In the past, they have never competed against each other till now in top tournaments.
Daria Kasatkina and Marta Kostyuk faced off 7 times. The head to head is 4-3 for Kasatkina.