Ukraine's Kostyuk shakes hands with Kasatkina, praises anti-war stance

Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk, known for her outspoken stance against Russia's invasion of Ukraine and her refusal to shake hands with Russian or Belarusian opponents, offered a handshake to Daria Kasatkina after defeating her 6-4, 6-2 in the second round of the Italian Open.

In Short

• Marta Kostyuk beat Daria Kasatkina 6-4, 6-2 at Italian Open
• Kostyuk shook hands, breaking her usual boycott of Russian players
• Kostyuk praised Kasatkina's courage on Instagram post-match

Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk shook hands with Daria Kasatkina following her straight-sets victory over the former Russian at the Italian Open on Friday.

Kostyuk, ranked 27th in the world, defeated Kasatkina 6-4, 6-2 in the tournament's second round. But it was the handshake on the net - a gesture she has consistently withheld from Russian and Belarusian opponents since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 - that drew immediate attention.

Kasatkina, now competing under the Australian flag, is one of the few former Russian players who have publicly condemned the war. She came out as gay in 2022 and has not returned to Russia since, citing the country's increasingly repressive climate.

Kostyuk acknowledged the significance of Kasatkina's stance in a message posted on Instagram after the match.

"Since the beginning of the war, I've chosen not to shake hands with Russian or Belarusian players," she wrote. "But when someone not only tells the truth - calling Russia the aggressor - but also acts on it, that deserves respect."

"Daria Kasatkina has clearly spoken out against the war and made the decision to give up her Russian sports citizenship. That takes courage - and I acknowledge it," Kostyuk added. "I hope this is not the final step, but part of a deeper commitment. I stand with Ukraine. I stand for truth, for dignity, and for those who choose to speak and act - when staying quiet would be easier."

Kasatkina, currently ranked 15th in the world, has been an outspoken critic of Moscow's actions in Ukraine, and her decision to switch allegiances is seen as a rare and bold move in the world of Russian sports, where dissent is often met with severe repercussions.

Kostyuk will face Canadian Leylah Annie Fernandez in the third round.