The tennis world was rocked by a controversial statement from Marta Kostyuk following her loss to Aryna Sabalenka at the Italian Open. In an unexpected twist, Kostyuk shocked the audience and the media with a blunt accusation, calling Sabalenka a “dirty toy,” in a clear attack on the Belarusian player.
Tensions between the two players had been building throughout the tournament, and after the match, Kostyuk didn’t hesitate to express her frustration with a statement that left everyone speechless. “Aryna is nothing more than a dirty toy. She has no honor or respect for the game,” Kostyuk said in a post-match interview. These words sparked a wave of outrage, but what followed was even more shocking.
Sabalenka, known for her firmness and character, responded with surprising but lethal calm. “If I were breaking the rules, I would have been punished by now,” the Belarusian said, making it clear that she doesn’t play outside the rules or ethics of tennis. Her response was not only a defense of her integrity, but also a forceful response to Kostyuk’s accusations.
Sabalenka’s reaction was so sharp that, according to witnesses, it left Kostyuk visibly emotional, to the point of bursting into tears. The Ukrainian player couldn’t hold back her tears at the magnitude of Sabalenka’s response, and the scene was captured on camera, sparking a wave of reactions on social media.
The verbal exchange between the two players quickly became the center of attention, sparking a debate about behavior and sportsmanship on the professional circuit. Some supported Kostyuk’s position, while others defended Sabalenka, emphasizing that her response was fair and based on the rules of tennis.
This incident not only shook the atmosphere of the Italian Open, but also opened a new chapter in the rivalry between these two players. While Kostyuk has not made any further public statements on the matter, cameras around the world couldn’t help but capture the emotionally charged moment involving both players.
This confrontation has left a mark on recent tennis history, proving once again that rivalries within the sport are not only played out on the court, but also off it, where words can have as much impact as actual performance. The question that remains is: how will this incident affect future interactions between Kostyuk and Sabalenka? Only time will tell.
