Marta Kostyuk Rips Aryna Sabalenka’s ‘Absurd’ Explanation After Madrid Controversy

Tennis may be played in silence, but the off-court drama? That’s full volume — and Marta Kostyuk just turned up the heat. After a tense showdown in Madrid followed by some eyebrow-raising post-match comments from Aryna Sabalenka, the Ukrainian firecracker didn’t hold back, calling the Belarusian star’s explanation for their icy exchange “absurd.”

The controversy began when Sabalenka, following her win over Kostyuk, claimed the lack of a handshake was due to “misunderstandings” and “outside pressure,” seemingly deflecting the ongoing political tension between their nations. Kostyuk, never one to mince words, swiftly shut that down. “Absurd,” she fired back during her Rome media duties. “She knows exactly why there was no handshake. Let’s not pretend otherwise.”

The tension is more than personal — it’s political, emotional, and very public. Kostyuk has been vocal about not shaking hands with Russian or Belarusian players amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, a stance she says is about principle, not personal animosity. For her, Sabalenka’s attempts to gloss over the reality feel like a PR move, not genuine reflection.

As both players continue their clay season campaigns, this war of words has reignited debate within the tennis world about how — or even if — sport can stay separate from politics. One thing’s for sure: this saga is far from over, and the next time these two meet on court, all eyes won’t just be on the scoreboard.

Drama in Madrid? Check. Fallout in Rome? Still unfolding.