WTA Miami: Kostyuk vs Potapova? There is impending trouble
In the second-round duel of Marta Kostyuk and Anastasia Potapova at the WTA Tour 1000 tournament in Miami, one should not hope for a friendly atmosphere.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Mar 22, 2023, 12:02 pm
Aryna Sabalenka doesn't always feel comfortable on the WTA tour at the moment. Sure, with Elena Rybakina the smear after the final in Indian Wells just ran, despite the defeat. Rybakina, who was born and lives in Moscow, albeit playing for Kazakhstan, should not be among those players who meet Sabalenka, who was born and lives in Belarus, in the locker room with "baseless hatred".
At least that's how the current Australian Open winner describes the mood in the dressing room. She personally did not do anything to anyone.
Of course that may be true. Belarus have nevertheless been banned from almost all team competitions for their support of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine (although they are now back in the qualifiers for the Euro 2024).
Kostyuk refuses to shake Gracheva's hand
Now the draw in Miami has resulted in a pairing that could bring the political conflicts back to the tennis court: Marta Kostyuk meets Anastasia Potapova after the opening win against Elisabetta Cocciaretto. You shouldn't bet any money on a friendly handshake. Because Kostyuk has already refused those Varvara Gracheva after the final in Austin. And Potapova arrived in Indian Wells wearing a jersey from a Moscow football club. And was therefore warned by the WTA.
Added to this is the demand from Iga Swiatek, Poland, that more should be done for the Ukrainian players on the WTA Tour. And the reply from Victoria Azarenka, like Sabalenka from Belarus, that the Players Council is already doing enough.
It's complicated and won't get any easier as long as Russia's incursion continues. And even after that, deep trenches have to be filled up.
Here is the women's individual tableau in Miami
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