No mention of Sabalenka! Kostyuk addresses homeland situation at award ceremony, Motova denies pregnancy rumors

Today marked the end of the 2026 Brisbane International, where world number one Sabalenka triumphed over Ukrainian player Kostyuk 6-4, 6-3 to retain her championship. Yet, the most striking moment was Kostyuk’s contentious remarks at the trophy presentation.

After the match, Kostyuk refused to shake hands with Sabalenka, and during the award ceremony, as the runner-up speaking first, she made no mention of Sabalenka nor thanked her opponent; instead, she spoke about her homeland, Ukraine:

“Every day, I fight with a heavy heart for Ukraine. Thousands of people are without electricity or hot water in minus 20 degrees. My sister needs three blankets to sleep. Seeing so many Ukrainian flags here today deeply moved me.”

Her words were met with applause from the audience. After the champion Sabalenka gave her speech, the two did not embrace or take photos together but instead posed separately. Thus, Brisbane ended amid controversy.

At the post-match press conference, Kostyuk defended her decision to use the podium to speak out: “I have a voice. Given my position, it would be inhumane not to talk about these issues.” Sabalenka maintained her “athlete first” stance: “Well, that’s their position. What can I do? I don’t mind. When I’m on the court, I only focus on my tennis.”

Some netizens commented, “Kostyuk’s speech was so moving; if we were in her shoes, it would be hard for any of us to forget the suffering of an entire nation. When she mentioned her sister needing three blankets to sleep in the cold, you could really feel the reality of that hardship.”

However, others argued, “This is sports! Sports should not involve politics. Yes, we all understand her situation; war is brutal and unfair to everyone. But this is an award ceremony, and she shouldn’t use such an occasion to stir up war sentiments. Russia is the aggressor, not Sabalenka. Her actions disregarded the feelings of her opponent.”

Turning to another important statement, Russian player V. Kudermetova explained to fans her recent absence from competitions.

In her statement, Kudermetova admitted that the past two to three years have been very tough for her, battling injuries while searching for new motivation and direction in tennis. Just as she was preparing to fully return to the court, she underwent surgery on New Year’s Eve.

“I was so focused on results and victories that I completely neglected my health,” Kudermetova wrote. “After all, when you’re on the rise and everything is going well, it’s really hard to stop!”

The Russian player said she now has to choose between tennis and her health, deciding to slow down, pay more attention to her body, undergo treatment and recovery, and recharge her inner strength. She promised to come back stronger on the court.

Some netizens said, “Oh, so that’s what happened! Although she didn’t specify the reason for the surgery, hopefully, it wasn’t a miscarriage.” Others commented, “There are so many false rumors nowadays. Anyway, we hope she can return to the court healthy soon and bring us more exciting matches.”(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Lu Xiaotian)