Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk has expressed her opposition to the potential participation of Russian athletes in the 2028 Olympics. Kostyuk, who recently reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon, called the decision to lift Russia’s Olympic suspension ‘terrible’ and ‘very, very far from fair play’.

Russia’s Olympic Suspension Lifted

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) provisionally lifted its suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee on Tuesday, paving the way for Russian athletes to return to the international sporting stage. The IOC’s decision has sparked controversy, with many arguing that it is premature given the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Kostyuk, who has been vocal about her opposition to Russia’s actions in Ukraine, stated that she would not be distracted from her tennis goals despite her strong feelings on the matter. ‘I just want to go out there and hopefully beat every single Russian I play in the Olympics, and that’s it,’ she said.

War in Ukraine Continues to Impact Kostyuk

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has had a significant impact on Kostyuk, who has struggled to focus on her tennis career amidst the violence and uncertainty. ‘It was really tough for me last week when the first big attack happened,’ she said. ‘Then on Monday, they ruined like four streets of residential buildings. It was like 5 km away from where my parents live.’ Kostyuk’s experiences have made her a vocal advocate for her country and its people.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.