Last Updated:
Kostyuk beat Mirra Andreeva to win her first WTA 1000 title in Madrid, celebrating emotionally while maintaining her stance of not shaking hands with Russian players.
Marta Kostyuk clinched her first WTA 1000 title with a stellar win over Mirra Andreeva at the Madrid Open (X)
Some wins hit differently. And for Marta Kostyuk, this was one of them.
The Ukrainian star, currently ranked World No. 23, captured her first-ever WTA 1000 title at the Madrid Open with a straight-sets win over Mirra Andreeva, 6-3, 7-5.
Kostyuk broke down in tears after sealing the win, before celebrating with a stunning backflip on the clay as her years of grind were finally rewarded.
“It feels unbelievable to stand here right now,” she said, clutching the trophy, in her post-match interview.
“It took me many years to reach this point, and the one word I think about right now is consistency. Showing up every day, no matter how hard it is.”
She added, “I’ve been doing that really well (over) the past years, I think, so I’m very proud of myself and my team.”
The triumph also makes her just the second player outside the top 20 to win in Madrid.
Why This Win Hits Different
This wasn’t just about tennis.
The backdrop remains the ongoing tensions stemming from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, something that has deeply shaped interactions on the WTA Tour.
On the subject of Kostyuk and him not greeting Russian women, I want to tell you one thing since I have been watching him all week, reading hundreds of criticisms of her. From a couch, with your TV, your internet, your heating and your food, it is easy to give your opinion about others, without knowing ANYTHING about what… https://t.co/yMEoXR2AA7 pic.twitter.com/50uIVPgtPi
— José Morón (@jmgmoron) May 2, 2026
Kostyuk has consistently refused to shake hands with Russian and Belarusian players since 2022, and she held firm once again after defeating Andreeva in the final.
There was no handshake at the net. No shared moment. Just a quiet, symbolic exit and her celebrations.
Read More
Source link
[ad_3]
