Ukraine star's fear of 'aggressive Novak fans'

1 year ago 70

Ukrainian youngster Marta Kostyuk says seeing images of Novak Djokovic's begetter posing with pro-war Russian fans "hurts a lot", arsenic she urged Wimbledon to support its prohibition connected Russian and Belarusian players for different year.

Kostyuk has been outspoken astir the Russia war, adjacent declining the accepted post-match handshake erstwhile facing Russian oregon Belarusian players, and did not hesitate erstwhile asked astir the video of Srdjan Djokovic that went viral earlier this week.

Novak Djokovic defended his begetter aft reaching the last connected Friday night, saying he'd been "misused". His begetter opted not to be Friday's semi final and it remains unclear whether helium volition beryllium successful the container for Sunday's last against Stefanos Tsitsipas.

"It hurts a batch due to the fact that determination were circumstantial rules that were printed extracurricular (saying) you're not allowed to bring flags and truthful on," Kostyuk said.

"It truly hurts that they've been determination for rather immoderate time. They were determination connected the tribunal and successful the stands arsenic well. I conscionable don't recognize however this tin beryllium possible.

"I don't cognize what the rules are. I don't cognize what the tourney is allowed to bash and not allowed to do, but I deliberation these kinds of things cannot beryllium near unseen due to the fact that it doesn't substance who you are, nary one's allowed to bash it."

Kostyuk was not prepared to accidental whether Djokovic's begetter should beryllium banned from entering Melbourne Park again, fearing backlash from the Serbian's rabid fanbase.

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"I cannot springiness you an reply astir what the tourney should do," she said.

"First of all, it's not successful my power, 2nd of all, nary substance what I say, I'm going to beryllium hated for the remainder of my life, particularly by assertive Novak fans.

"People cognize that Novak has precise assertive fans. I cognize this due to the fact that I've experienced this successful the past and erstwhile I said the 'big three' didn't enactment Wimbledon (bans), and I got truthful overmuch hate, particularly from Serbian fans."

The 20-year-old, who is presently ranked No.61 successful the WTA rankings, said Wimbledon needed to proceed its bans, contempt players specified arsenic Australian Open finalist Aryna Sabalenka urging the tourney to let her and chap Russian and Belarusian players to enactment successful 2023.

"I don't attraction astir the points ... due to the fact that if you person the level you'll get points anywhere," Kostyuk said.

"Look astatine Elena (Rybakina) for example, OK she didn't get the points (from Wimbledon) but present she's successful the last and she's going to beryllium a top-10 player. Ons (Jabeur) played successful the last and she was No.2 up until adjacent week.

"For me, it's going to beryllium a hard infinitesimal for Wimbledon. I don't cognize what they're going to decide.

"I deliberation yes (they should support the ban), due to the fact that I cannot ideate if idiosyncratic Russian oregon Belarusian wins the tourney and past the royal household has to clasp the trophies with them. This is 1 of the large reasons they really banned them."

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