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Easing Russian Olympic restrictions 'terrible', says Wimbledon star Kostyuk / Photo: HENRY NICHOLLS - AFP
Easing Russian Olympic restrictions 'terrible', says Wimbledon star Kostyuk
Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk slammed the "terrible" decision by the International Olympic Committee to lift some restrictions on Russian athletes, after reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals on Wednesday.
The IOC will allow Russian athletes to compete in team events and qualifications for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, although it has kept in place its ban on Russia's flag and national anthem.
Ukrainians have refused to shake hands with Russian and Belarusian players at tennis tournaments since Russia's invasion of their country in 2022, with Kostyuk one of the most vocal voices on tour.
"It's terrible. I think it's very, very far from fair play for all the countries involved here, not just for Ukraine," Kostyuk said.
"I 100 percent don't agree with this decision. But I feel like a lot of people spoke out on this issue.
"They obviously don't agree, as well. I don't think anything is going to change.
"I just want to go out there and hopefully beat every single Russian I play in the Olympics, and that's it."
Kostyuk reached her second consecutive Grand Slam semi-final with a win over Jasmine Paolini at Wimbledon.
The 24-year-old is determined not to let the Russian Olympic controversy distract her at the All England Club.
"I'm sure we're going to do something about it," she said when asked if Ukrainian players would raise their concerns with the International Tennis Federation.
"I'm definitely not going to be doing this before my semi-final match.
"Maybe I can talk more about it in the US (American hard-court season) or wherever, whenever I have time to talk to the team, to the girls, to the government as well, see what we're going to do about it."
Kostyuk said after her first-round win at the recent French Open that her family home was only narrowly missed by a Russian missile.
"On Monday they ruined like four streets of residential buildings. It was like five kilometres away from where my parents live," Kostyuk said at Wimbledon on Wednesday.
"Again, another difficult night and a lot of dead people, innocent people, kids. It's not easy. I try to be aware of everything that's going on."
Kostyuk will play against Czech ninth seed Linda Noskova on Thursday for a place in her first major final.
The 12th seed will be hoping to make amends for her painful loss to Russia's Mirra Andreeva in the French Open semi-finals.
P.Beaulieu--SMC
