“Demonstration of narrow-mindedness.” Chen harshly criticized the Ukrainian tennis player for refusing to play with the Russian

Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk demonstrated narrow-mindedness and bad manners by her refusal to play against Russian Mirra Andreeva in the final of the exhibition tournament in France, silver medalist of the World Athletics Championships Yolanda Chen told Match TV.

The tournament took place in Bourg-de-Page. The organizers said that the reason for this decision of the 21-year-old Ukrainian woman was the “geopolitical situation.” Instead of Kostyuk, Andreeva was played by the Frenchman Yanis Ghazouani Duran, who ranks 1145th in the ATP rankings.

– I don’t understand this at all. Not only did the International Olympic Committee tear up the Olympic Charter and wipe itself with it, but also the athletes act like Kostyuk. This is wildly incomprehensible to me, what does sport have to do with the Russian tennis player? You go out to compete, you have to fight against any opponent. Sport should always bring peace, stop hostility and conflicts. This is what the Olympic Games were designed for.

Kostyuk could prove she was right on the court, why give it up? This is a demonstration of lack of education, bad manners, and narrow-mindedness. Most likely, they have been given instructions not to play and are afraid to break them. I’m sure that without restrictions from above, everyone would play. “All this smells bad,” Match TV reports Chen’s words.

Kostyuk is ranked 39th in the world rankings. Newcomer of the year according to the WTA, 16-year-old Andreeva, is the 57th racket in the world.