Aryna Sabalenka Stirred Controversy on Purpose, Discloses Marta Kostyuk Before Italian Open Blockbuster
As Marta Kostyuk gears up to face Aryna Sabalenka again, this time at the Italian Open, the Ukrainian touched on the highly controversial moment that marred their last encounter during the Madrid Open.
Sabalenka halted play mid-rally in a tiebreak to avoid a potential double fault. The incident left Kostyuk visibly frustrated and sparked questions about fair play, umpiring decisions, and sportsmanship.
Advertisement
'Yes, we did consider raising it with the WTA,' Kostyuk said in an interview at the Italian open. 'Sandra [Zaniewska] had a few questions, and maybe we'll come back to it during Roland Garros. But of course, nothing will change now.'
The moment in question occurred during a high-pressure tiebreak when Sabalenka, mid-rally and facing a second serve, stopped play due to light rain.
However, the chair umpire had not made any official call to halt the match, which left Kostyuk fuming at what she viewed as a blatant breach of protocol.
'The rally had already started — she had no right to interrupt it,' Kostyuk emphasized.
Advertisement
"No matter what the rules say, it's nearly impossible to challenge the chair umpire's call in real time — it all happens in a split second," continued Kostyuk. "The situation was strange — if Sabalenka had stopped the point before the first serve, I wouldn't have any complaints, but the rally had already started and she had no right to interrupt it," she added.
Aryna Sabalenka reacts after winning a point against Jessica Pegula© Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
What added further fuel to the fire was Sabalenka's post-match admission that she intentionally paused play to avoid a double fault.
'What's most absurd is that she later admitted in an interview that she did it on purpose to avoid a double fault,' said Kostyuk. 'I have so many questions and not a single answer. But that's how it goes sometimes. She'll have to live with that decision.'
Advertisement
The controversy has added an extra layer of tension heading into today's rematch in Rome. Kostyuk, who has grown increasingly confident on clay, will be looking to settle the score — not just in points, but in principle.
With both players aware of the statements and the narrative that they each created, fans can certainly expect a fiercely contested encounter.
As the clay season heats up, today's Ukraine vs Belarus clash offers more than just a spot in the next round — it's a battle for pride and, for Kostyuk, redemption.
Related: Late Night Drama at Madrid Open as Marta Kostyuk Has Heated Argument in Loss to Aryna Sabalenka
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Top Ukrainian commander sees new assault on key eastern city
(Reuters) -Ukraine's top commander said on Saturday that his forces faced a new onslaught against a key city on the eastern front of its war against Russia, while Moscow said it was making progress in another sector farther southwest. After their initial failed advance on the capital Kyiv in the first weeks after the February 2022 invasion, Russian troops have focused on capturing all of Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine. The city of Kostiantynivka has been a major target. Ukrainian forces have for months defended the city against fierce assaults, with the regional governor urging remaining residents this week to evacuate as infrastructure breaks down. Top Ukrainian commander Oleksander Syrskyi, writing on Telegram on Saturday, said the area around Kostiantynivka was gripped by heavy fighting. "The enemy is surging towards Kostiantynivka, but apart from sustaining numerous losses, has achieved nothing," Syrskyi said. "The aggressor is trying to break through our defences and advance along three operating sectors." A spokesman for Ukrainian forces in the east, Viktor Trehubov, told the Ukrinform news agency that Kostiantynivka and the city of Pokrovsk to the west were "the main arena of battles and the Kremlin's strategic ambitions". Syrskyi also said that Ukrainian forces had withstood in the past week a powerful attack near the village of Yablunivka in northeastern Sumy region, where Russian forces have been trying to establish a buffer zone inside the Ukrainian border. Russia's Defence Ministry, in a report earlier in the day, said Moscow's forces had seized the village of Chervona Zirka -- further southwest, near the administrative border of Dnipropetrovsk region. Russia's slow advance through eastern Ukraine, with Moscow claiming a string of villages day after day, has resulted in destruction of major cities and infrastructure. Moscow has insisted that progress towards a settlement of the 40-month-old war depends on Ukraine recognising Moscow's control over four Ukrainian regions -- Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. Russian forces control about one-fifth of Ukraine's territory, though they do not fully hold any of the four regions. Moscow has said in recent weeks that its troops have made advances in areas adjacent to Dnipropetrovsk region, which lies next to both Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions. Ukrainian officials have denied those reports.
Forbes
32 minutes ago
- Forbes
Russia Upgrades Shahed Drones, Adopts New Tactics In Ukraine
Ukrainian explosives experts and police officers examine parts of a Shahed 136 military drone ... More following an air-attack in Kharkiv on June 4, 2025. (Photo by SERGEY BOBOK / AFP) (Photo by SERGEY BOBOK/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images The Iranian Shahed-136 is part of the pantheon of drones that have come to define the modern battlefield. This drone, sometimes referred to as the Geran-2 when used by Russia, has become a central part of Russia's drone campaign against Ukraine. Its relatively low cost, long range, and substantial payload have made it a versatile tool for both deep strikes and tactical operations. Despite its widespread use, Ukraine has grown increasingly effective at countering these drones. In response, Russia is fielding new variants of the Shahed drone and adopting new tactics to overcome Ukrainian defenses. Given the widespread use of the Shahed by Russian forces, Ukraine has implemented a systematic approach to counter them. Last year, the Russians began including decoy drones with their Shahed drones to increase the likelihood of evading Ukrainian defenses. Regardless, Ukraine has been effective at neutralizing both the decoys and the Shaheds using a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic approaches. For example, during a barrage on January 25, 2025, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russian forces launched 61 drones. None reached their targets. Fifteen were jammed, and the remaining 46 were shot down. Screen captures from social media videos of Shahed drones being shot down by a MIG-29 (left) and ... More from a Mi-24 Hind (right) Social Media Capture In general, Ukrainian electronic warfare systems are able to jam approximately half of the incoming drones, especially those flying at lower altitudes. These electronic warfare systems are continuously upgraded to exploit communication vulnerabilities in Russian drones. For those drones that are not jammed, Ukrainian forces respond based on the drone's altitude. Several videos on social media show Ukrainian Mi-24 Hinds and MiG-29s trailing behind and shooting down Shahed drones at higher altitudes. Meanwhile, mobile fire groups use vehicle-mounted machine guns to target lower-flying drones. However, the effectiveness of the Shahed has recently increased. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russian forces launched 71 Shahed and decoy drones on June 25, 2025. Of these, 32 were shot down, 20 were jammed, and 19 reached their targets. This trend, which began a few months ago, reflects a shift in both technology and tactics, with a growing number of drones successfully penetrating Ukrainian defenses. Ukrainian reports indicate that the newest Shahed drones may have undergone structural changes that have improved their survivability. Most notably, the engine compartment has been reinforced with armor to better withstand machine gun fire. Additionally, the fuel tanks, which were previously located in the wings, have been moved into the drone's hull. In earlier versions, a single shot to the wing or engine was often enough to bring the drone down. With these modifications, the drone can sustain more hits to its wings or body and still stay aloft, continuing its flight to its target. Social media post attributed to Ukrainian anti-aircraft gun commander discussing the new tactics and ... More technologies employed by the Shaheds. Social Media Capture Another significant upgrade is the addition of submunitions. Instead of simply crashing into a target and detonating on impact, some variants are now able to release smaller submunitions during flight. This enhancement reduces the need for pinpoint accuracy and expands the drone's tactical utility. The submunitions can be dispersed over a wide area, making them effective against troop concentrations and lightly fortified positions. They can also be released at any point during the drone's flight path, allowing for more flexible targeting. In the Sumy and Kharkiv regions, Ukrainian forces have reported disorienting encounters with these drones, noting that 'you don't even hear them fall, and then 20 minutes after the flight, an explosion occurs.' Russia's New Tactics For Employing the Shahed Drones In addition to physical upgrades, Russian forces have also adopted new tactics for deploying Shahed drones. One such tactic involves launching the drones in pairs, with one flying at a low altitude and the other at a higher altitude. The lower-flying drone effectively shields the higher-flying drone, causing Ukrainian detection systems to register only a single target. The higher-flying drone often remains undetected until the lower one is neutralized, giving it more time in the air and increasing the likelihood of reaching its intended target. Firefighters extinguish the flames, following a Russian attack with 20 Shahed Drones, in Kharkiv, ... More Ukraine, on May 6, 2025. (Photo by Pavlo Pakhomenko/NurPhoto via Getty Images) NurPhoto via Getty Images Russia is also pairing Shahed drones with Lancet drones. The Lancet is a smaller loitering munition that has been in service since 2020 and has undergone a number of upgrades. Its compact size makes it more difficult to detect and harder to hit with machine guns than the much larger Shaheds. As a group Shahed drones approach their targets, the accompanying Lancet seeks out the Ukrainian ground-based counter-drone teams responsible for intercepting drones. By striking these teams, the Lancet helps clear the way for the Shaheds to reach their targets without interference. Ukraine's Response To The Updated Shahed Drone As a larger number of Shahed drones are now reaching their targets, Ukrainian forces will need to adjust their tactics and counter-drone systems. Their engineers are likely already adapting drone detection systems to reduce the shielding effect created when two drones fly together at different altitudes. Meanwhile, the ground-based counter-drone teams may also modify their vehicles to be less susceptible to Lancet strikes and begin using more powerful rifles capable of causing greater damage to the drones. Ukraine has also pursued other measures to mitigate the Shahed threat. In particular, they recently carried out a strike on one of the factories that produces these drones. Underlying the larger conflict is a constant race for drone superiority. Both Russia and Ukraine are rapidly adapting their drone and counter-drone technologies in an effort to gain an edge. The latest modification to Shahed drone technology and tactics displays this cycle of innovation and response. The cycle will continue, and Ukraine will adjust its defenses, Russia will continue to evolve its drones and tactics in turn.
Yahoo
37 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Djokovic crashes Sabalenka's news conference at Wimbledon to offer advice: 'Put some power into it'
LONDON (AP) — Novak Djokovic offered some lighthearted advice to top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka at Wimbledon on Saturday after gatecrashing the Belarusian's news conference. Djokovic and Sabalenka spent some time practicing together at the All England Club this week ahead of the start of the grass-court Grand Slam tournament. Djokovic, a seven-time Wimbledon champion, then playfully interrupted the end of Sabalenka's news conference on Saturday by telling her to hurry up so he could take over the podium. Advertisement Sabalenka then took on the role of interviewer as reporters had been asking her about their session on court. 'What did you think about hitting with me?" the three-time major winner asked Djokovic. "How do you see my level? Am I good?' Djokovic, who holds a total of 24 Grand Slams, was quick with a quip. 'I think you have the potential. You're like a really talented player,' he said, before offering a criticism of Sabalenka — who is known as one of the biggest hitters on the women's circuit. 'Can I be honest? You're lacking intensity on the court," Djokovic said, drawing laughter. 'You don't have enough intensity. It's too flat. You've got to lighten up a little bit and put some power into it.' Advertisement Djokovic has experience with this kind of hijinks. Back at the All England Club in 2011, it was the then-second ranked Serb at the podium when then-No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki crashed his news conference and peppered him with questions. Djokovic went on to win his first Wimbledon title, while Wozniacki lost in the fourth round. Djokovic opens his bid for an eighth Wimbledon title on Tuesday when he plays Alexandre Muller of France. Sabalenka plays Carson Branstine on Monday. ___ AP tennis: Mattias Karen, The Associated Press
