By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, January 11, 2026Photo credit score: Brisbane Worldwide Fb
Motion speaks louder than phrases.
Each phrases and actions amplified the extraordinary rivalry between world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and Marta Kostyuk following the top-seeded Sabalenka’s triumph within the Brisbane closing.
A frosty change adopted the ultimate.
Ukrainian Kostyuk continued Ukrainian gamers’ custom of declining the post-match handshake with Belarusian and Russian gamers in protest of Russia’s unprovoked invasion of her house nation.
Sabalenka, in an obvious dig at Kostyuk’s reported feedback on some stars’ increased testosterone ranges, kissed each of her biceps following her 6-4, 6-3 sweep and second straight Brisbane title.
Through the trophy presentation, Kostyuk didn’t cite Sabalenka’s identify, as a substitute praising the spirit and pleasure of her Ukrainian compatriots and the ache she feels seeing struggling in her homeland.
“I need to say a couple of phrases about Ukraine,” Kostyuk stated. “I play day by day with a ache in my coronary heart. There are literally thousands of people who find themselves with out gentle and heat water proper now, it’s minus 20 levels outdoors proper now, so it’s very, very painful to stay this actuality day by day.
“I used to be extremely moved and completely satisfied to see so many Ukrainian followers and flags right here this week – Slava Ukraini.”
Requested in regards to the lack of handshake afterward, Sabalenka, who congratulated Kostyuk in her speech and stated she hopes they face off once more, stated it doesn’t trouble her.
The world No. 1 stated she’s centered on taking part in tennis and never working towards politics.
“Nicely, it’s their place. It’s their place. What can I do?” Sabalenka instructed the media in Brisbane. “I don’t thoughts that. I don’t care about that.
“After I go into the match, it’s all about tennis and sport. After I go on the market, I take into consideration my tennis and the issues I’ve to do to get the win. Doesn’t matter if it’s Marta Kostyuk or Jessica Pegula there. I nonetheless go on the market and I nonetheless attempt my finest, and I’ll nonetheless combat for the trophy. I’ve nothing to show. I am going there and I simply compete as an athlete.”
In her post-match press convention, Kostyuk stated her place is straightforward: She has a public platform and believes she should use it to publicize the ache and struggling occurring in her homeland.
“I’ve simply discovered with the struggle and all the pieces that’s occurring that it’s actually vital to face up for issues and to speak about them, whether or not it’s struggle, whether or not it’s different beliefs, or the place that you’ve,” Kostyuk stated. “It doesn’t matter what it’s, if it’s what you imagine in, it’s important to speak about it.
“I believe it’s actually vital for me additionally personally, as a result of as I stated on the courtroom, my home, like the home the place my dad and mom stay, it has heating, like they’ve turbines, so even when there are blackouts, they’ll nonetheless push their electrical energy, to allow them to nonetheless warmth up their home, nevertheless it’s nonetheless very chilly inside. Like my husband’s dad and mom are strolling round within the jackets at house due to how chilly it’s.
“So, , I’m right here, I do my job, in fact, that is a very powerful factor, however on the similar time, like, the truth again house may be very, very completely different. So I simply, I really feel like I can’t ignore it and I’ve to share it. I’ve platform for this, and I’ve voice.”
