Tennis fans have risen to defend Marta Kostyuk against the criticism she is facing for her “we are at war” comments. They sympathized with the Ukrainian, saying she was only a child whose country had been invaded.The locker room drama over Russia’s war on Ukraine continued as Kostyuk declined to shake hands with Russian opponent Anastasia Potapova at the 2023 Miami Open.Earlier, she had responded to Aryna Sabalenka’s claims of facing “hate” in the locker room.“Obviously, there is tension – we’re not friends. We are at war at the moment,” Kostyuk had said.Sabalenka had spoken ahead of the Miami Open about the atmosphere she encounters in locker rooms during tournaments."It was really tough for me because I’ve never faced that much hate in the locker room. There are a lot of haters on Instagram when you’re losing matches, but in the locker room, I’ve never faced that," the Russian player said. "It was really tough to understand that there’s so many people who hate me for no reason. I did nothing."In response to Kostyuk's comments, some fans took to Twitter and criticized the Ukrainian player over her actions. These fans opined that the 20-year-old is competing for money and points, travelling all around the globe, and not on the front lines.“She’s traveling from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to California and Miami, all around the globe competing for prize money/points and still has a 'we’re at war' mentality like she’s a part of the people literally in combat boots on the front lines? Idk. It just doesn’t read that well,” wrote one account.Myles David@TunedIntoTennisAnother story line I’m tired of twitter.com/marioboc17/sta…Mario Boccardi@marioboc17Marta Kostyuk on Russian players: "I might not say 'Hi' to some players, but I never approached anyone. Maybe I myself spread hate just by being there. I don't know when people come out with that. But obviously there is tension - we're not friends. We are at war at the moment."46Marta Kostyuk on Russian players: "I might not say 'Hi' to some players, but I never approached anyone. Maybe I myself spread hate just by being there. I don't know when people come out with that. But obviously there is tension - we're not friends. We are at war at the moment." https://t.co/pTOI6ReAofAnother story line I’m tired of twitter.com/marioboc17/sta…Myles David@TunedIntoTennisShe’s traveling from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to California and Miami, all around the globe competing for prize money/points and still has a “we’re at war” mentality like she’s apart of the people literally in combat boots on the front lines? Idk. It just doesn’t read that well11She’s traveling from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to California and Miami, all around the globe competing for prize money/points and still has a “we’re at war” mentality like she’s apart of the people literally in combat boots on the front lines? Idk. It just doesn’t read that wellThe comments instigated other tennis fans who rose up in the Ukrainian’s defense, stating that the critical comments were “embarrassing.” They also said that the tennis player's comments are “understandable.”“She’s basically a child whose country has been invaded. Boys her age, people she went to school with, are dying on the front line. Maybe it’s not 'rational' that she’s angry at the Russian/Belorussian players, but it’s certainly understandable,” wrote one fan in Kostyuk’s defense.ruckerbry@ruckerbryShe’s basically a child whose country has been invaded. Boys her age, people she went to school with, are dying on the front line. Maybe it’s not “rational” that she’s angry at the Russian/Belorussian players but it’s certainly understandable. twitter.com/TunedIntoTenni…Myles David@TunedIntoTennisShe’s traveling from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to California and Miami, all around the globe competing for prize money/points and still has a “we’re at war” mentality like she’s apart of the people literally in combat boots on the front lines? Idk. It just doesn’t read that well9She’s traveling from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to California and Miami, all around the globe competing for prize money/points and still has a “we’re at war” mentality like she’s apart of the people literally in combat boots on the front lines? Idk. It just doesn’t read that wellShe’s basically a child whose country has been invaded. Boys her age, people she went to school with, are dying on the front line. Maybe it’s not “rational” that she’s angry at the Russian/Belorussian players but it’s certainly understandable. twitter.com/TunedIntoTenni…Here are others who backed the World No. 38.pat@1hbhdtlacting like her reaction to a war is some failed tv show storyline is embarrassing really. maybe you can't live laugh love through everything and it doesn't need another hot take twitter.com/TunedIntoTenni…Myles David@TunedIntoTennisShe’s traveling from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to California and Miami, all around the globe competing for prize money/points and still has a “we’re at war” mentality like she’s apart of the people literally in combat boots on the front lines? Idk. It just doesn’t read that well281She’s traveling from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to California and Miami, all around the globe competing for prize money/points and still has a “we’re at war” mentality like she’s apart of the people literally in combat boots on the front lines? Idk. It just doesn’t read that wellacting like her reaction to a war is some failed tv show storyline is embarrassing really. maybe you can't live laugh love through everything and it doesn't need another hot take twitter.com/TunedIntoTenni…Wiktoria Szczypińska@wiktoria_s_zis there such a thing as exaggerated reactions when a country is at war? you write about the war as something normal. twitter.com/tunedintotenni…Myles David@TunedIntoTennisShe’s traveling from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to California and Miami, all around the globe competing for prize money/points and still has a “we’re at war” mentality like she’s apart of the people literally in combat boots on the front lines? Idk. It just doesn’t read that well7She’s traveling from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to California and Miami, all around the globe competing for prize money/points and still has a “we’re at war” mentality like she’s apart of the people literally in combat boots on the front lines? Idk. It just doesn’t read that wellis there such a thing as exaggerated reactions when a country is at war? you write about the war as something normal. twitter.com/tunedintotenni…d | Iga Świ-ON-tek ⭐️@igashviontekfind the need to criticise ukrainian players at every opportunity extremely strange. meanwhile this guy suiting up to defend coco every time someone says her forehand sucks. twitter.com/tunedintotenni…4410find the need to criticise ukrainian players at every opportunity extremely strange. meanwhile this guy suiting up to defend coco every time someone says her forehand sucks. twitter.com/tunedintotenni…kerstin #1inParis greek grass specialist@evendensershadeThis just screams lack of empathy twitter.com/tunedintotenni…Myles David@TunedIntoTennisShe’s traveling from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to California and Miami, all around the globe competing for prize money/points and still has a “we’re at war” mentality like she’s apart of the people literally in combat boots on the front lines? Idk. It just doesn’t read that well353She’s traveling from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to California and Miami, all around the globe competing for prize money/points and still has a “we’re at war” mentality like she’s apart of the people literally in combat boots on the front lines? Idk. It just doesn’t read that wellThis just screams lack of empathy twitter.com/tunedintotenni…Jacopo (fan account)@OutoftennisI’m not a fan of Marta's ways sometimes but weren't Americans saying they were at war the last time they were attached at their territory? Maybe let’s not speak about overreaction twitter.com/tunedintotenni…Myles David@TunedIntoTennisShe’s traveling from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to California and Miami, all around the globe competing for prize money/points and still has a “we’re at war” mentality like she’s apart of the people literally in combat boots on the front lines? Idk. It just doesn’t read that well92She’s traveling from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to California and Miami, all around the globe competing for prize money/points and still has a “we’re at war” mentality like she’s apart of the people literally in combat boots on the front lines? Idk. It just doesn’t read that wellI’m not a fan of Marta's ways sometimes but weren't Americans saying they were at war the last time they were attached at their territory? Maybe let’s not speak about overreaction twitter.com/tunedintotenni…lou 🎾@tennisdemonnthis is the most insensitive tweet I've read on this hellsite. twitter.com/TunedIntoTenni…Myles David@TunedIntoTennisShe’s traveling from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to California and Miami, all around the globe competing for prize money/points and still has a “we’re at war” mentality like she’s apart of the people literally in combat boots on the front lines? Idk. It just doesn’t read that well91She’s traveling from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to California and Miami, all around the globe competing for prize money/points and still has a “we’re at war” mentality like she’s apart of the people literally in combat boots on the front lines? Idk. It just doesn’t read that wellthis is the most insensitive tweet I've read on this hellsite. twitter.com/TunedIntoTenni…Unhinged Lalafell@ULalafell@TunedIntoTennis Have some empathy, it's not politics, it's war. Russian athletes are lucky they still get to live and travel freely in the West, and they shouldn't take it for granted. One messy incident and they'll be back in Moscow living under surveillance...1@TunedIntoTennis Have some empathy, it's not politics, it's war. Russian athletes are lucky they still get to live and travel freely in the West, and they shouldn't take it for granted. One messy incident and they'll be back in Moscow living under surveillance...obemufol 🇪🇺🇺🇦@obemufol@TunedIntoTennis The war is not only happening on the "front lines" and you don't need "combat boots" to be involved in it. For instance, weapon deliveries and humanitarian aid are affected by public debate. The ideological fight, including that on the Internet, is a part of the conflict.1@TunedIntoTennis The war is not only happening on the "front lines" and you don't need "combat boots" to be involved in it. For instance, weapon deliveries and humanitarian aid are affected by public debate. The ideological fight, including that on the Internet, is a part of the conflict.“No reply, nothing, just silence” - Marta Kostyuk says the WTA has ignored Ukrainian players’ request for a meetingMarta Kostyuk says Ukrainians want a meeting with WTAWar-related tensions in women’s tennis are increasing day by day. Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk refused to shake hands with Anastasia Potapova after losing in their 2023 Miami Open clash.The 20-year-old also refused to shake hands, click pictures, or have a shared trophy presentation with Russian Varvara Gracheva at the ATX Open in Austin."Yes, we wanted to have the meeting with the board, and we didn't get one. No reply, nothing, just silence," the World No. 38 told reporters."I mean, once we're in the meeting we can talk about it. Before the meeting, I don't think it's a good idea to talk about what we want to talk about there," Marta Kostyuk added.Marta Kostyuk’s compatriot Lesia Tsurenko had also said that the Ukrainians asked for a meeting with the WTA. Her comments came after she pulled out of her 2023 Indian Wells clash against Belarussian Aryna Sabalenka.