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Kostyuk, a Ukrainian star who has remained outspoken over the war in her home country, was enraged by a now-deleted post from the official US Open Instagram account on Sunday night that celebrated her straight-sets victory over Maria Timofeeva in the fourth round.
The graphic displayed a Russian flag next to Timofeeva’s name, despite the 20-year-old playing as a neutral athlete on the WTA Tour.
“Today, after my victory over the athlete from the aggressor country, the Russian flag was published on the official resource of one of the biggest tennis tournaments in the world,” Kostyuk wrote.
“The sports world continues to promote a murderous country and a country that uses its athletes as part of its propaganda.
“I call on media representatives, officials and the sports community to stop using the tennis court to promote ‘Russian peace’.”
Tennis has become one of the major sporting battlegrounds of the war, with Kostyuk and other Ukrainian players regularly questioning why Russian and Belarusian players continue to be allowed to play on the WTA and ATP Tours – even under a neutral flag.
Kostyuk has used her post-match press conferences at the Australian Open this month as a platform to continue that conversation.
And the 21-year-old took her argument to Instagram when she lashed out at the post from the official US Open account.
“We have repeatedly asked the question, ‘What is the status of a neutral athlete?’ Because it actually does not exist,” Kostyuk wrote.
“These athletes have repeatedly said that everyone knows which countries they represent.
“Their government constantly says that these are their athletes and the world knows about it.
“The international media in their publications write that these are Russian and Belarusian athletes.
“Many athletes have their flag on social networks.”
Kostyuk has defeated two Russian-born players en route to her maiden final eight berth at a grand slam.
She will face American world No.4 Coco Gauff in the quarter-finals on Tuesday.
If Kostyuk defeats Gauff, she could face Belarusian-born player and reigning Australian Open champion, Aryna Sabalenka, in the semi-finals.
Kostyuk last year said she “does not respect” Sabalenka, after refusing to shake her hand after their match at Roland Garros.
“Just to reject her responsibility of having an opinion on the most important things in the world – I can’t respect that,” Kostyuk said after the match.
Sabalenka responded to those comments by saying: “I said many times, nobody – Russian or Belarusian athletes – support the war. Of course won’t don’t support the war. If we could stop it, we would – but it’s not in our hands.” – Callum Dick
9.30AM: DEMON OPENS UP ON AUS OPEN HEARTBREAK
– Callum Dick
A deflated Alex de Minaur says he will not let his heartbreaking Australian Open fourth-round defeat to Andrey Rublev overshadow the positive progress he has made in his game over the past 12 months.
De Minaur, 24, cut a forlorn figure when he addressed the media on the stroke of midnight after his five-set fist fight with the No.5 seed, which ended with the Russian overpowering the local hope 6-0 in the decider.
“Nothing about pressure, nothing about expectation, none of that – just he played too good in the moments,” De Minaur said.
“It’s tough because I thought he was hurting physically in the third and in the fourth (sets).
“He just let go. He started swinging. The balls went in.
“It’s not a match that I thought I lost physically. It was just that the racquet was taken out of my hand.”
READ THE FULL REPORT HERE
9.00AM: CAN AZARENKA MAKE MOST OF CARNAGE IN WOMEN’S DRAW?
Victoria Azarenka, who kicks off the action on Rod Laver Arena and is dreaming of a third title, has not won the year’s opening Grand Slam since 2013, when she defended the title.
But with seven of the top-10 women’s seeds already out, she can see a pathway opening up, with the remaining top players all in a different part of the draw.
Next up for the 18th seed, 34, is a meeting with Ukrainian qualifier Dayana Yastremska.
“In terms of my game, I think that people really compare results rather than actual evolution of yourself and your game,” said the Belarusian.
“I feel like I’ve definitely evolved as a player. The game itself evolved. You cannot really compare it as much.
“I think right now the level of tennis is very, very competitive, and we have like a deep pool of players who can beat anybody on the given day. I think that’s what makes them more dangerous.”
Also on the women’s side, China’s 12th seed Zheng Qinwen faces Oceane Dodin of France while Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina, a former quarter-finalist, meets Czech player Linda Noskova, who knocked out top seed Iga Swiatek.
8.30AM: ALCARAZ HEADLINES DAY NINE MEN’S ACTION
Carlos Alcaraz faces unseeded Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic as he bids to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals on Monday.
The Spanish second seed has yet to be fully tested in Melbourne but has shown glimpses of his best.
Speaking after Saturday’s third-round match, during which Chinese teenager Shang Juncheng was forced to retire when trailing by two sets, Alcaraz said he was “feeling great”.
“Probably seven, eight (out of ten),” said the 20-year-old, giving himself marks.
“It’s a high note. But that’s how I feel.
“I think I’m improving every day. Every match that I’m playing, I’m feeling better and better. Moving, hitting the ball, and, of course I’m getting used to this court as well.” The Australian Open is doubling up as a shootout for the number one spot and defending champion Novak Djokovic has already laid down a marker, dropping just three games in his fourth-round match on Sunday.
Two-time Grand Slam winner Alcaraz knows he will have to raise his game to new heights to stop the top seed winning a record 25th Grand Slam title in Melbourne, where the Spaniard’s previous best run was the third round.
German sixth seed Alexander Zverev takes on Britain’s 19th-seeded Cameron Norrie in a match that could go the distance while third seed Daniil Medvedev faces Portugal’s Nuno Borges, ranked 69.
Originally published as Australian Open 2024: Day 9 live scores, schedule, order of play: Marta Kostyuk fumes over deleted tweet
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