Tennis
Tournament organizer: “Kostyuk started receiving threats, refused to play”
One of the organizers of the French exhibition tournament Negomental Open de Bourg-de-Peague Xavier Coffin He described in detail the situation with Marta Kostyuk’s refusal to play in the match against Russian Mirra Andreeva.
“On Thursday, Donna Vekic announced her withdrawal from the tournament due to shoulder pain. We had to urgently look for a replacement. We received many rejections. Martha responded in the affirmative.
We said she would probably play against Russian tennis player Mirra Andreeva. Kostyuk said everything was fine, but she would not shake his hand as has been customary at WTA tournaments for the past few months. This suited us.
Saturday evening: Mirra Andreeva beat Varvara Gracheva and advanced to the final. From that moment the news spread throughout Ukraine (6 years ago we could not even imagine that our small tournament would be talked about so far from our borders). Marta found herself under great pressure online.
Sunday morning: Martha arrives in Bourg-de-Page. He was going to play with some kids from the club before the game in the afternoon. Then she gave us this news. She didn’t feel ready to play after the threats she received online.
Naturally we were disappointed because we knew it would be very difficult to replace him 3 hours before the match started (Gracheva had already caught her train). We are working to find players, but it is very difficult in such a short time.
In a hurry and in agreement with Andreeva, and also considering our people, to whom we definitely want to offer 2 matches, we decided to organize a match with Yannis Ghazouani Duran (No. 1 of the club and N88 of France). He lost to Arthur Rinderknech on Friday (6:7, 3:6).
Martha spent the morning with our youth, taking photos, signing autographs, etc. passed. She was simply very professional. He didn’t ask for anything from us, he apologized. She said she just wanted to calm down and, above all, stop receiving threats on the internet.
Leaving Bourg-de-Page. Ghazouani Duran defeated Mirra Andreeva. The Russian woman still lifts the trophy (by the way, the director broke the finalist’s trophy the same morning). “All’s well that ends well, and no one here holds a grudge against the Ukrainian,” Coffin said.
Source: Sport UA
I am a sports journalist who has worked in print and online. I have authored articles for a sports website and have covered sports news for over 6 years.
Ukrainian tennis player Angelina Kalinina (WTA 178) She managed to qualify for the 2026 Australian Open.
In the final of the selection, the Ukrainian player beat the Polish representative in three sets Maya Khvalinskaya (WTA 145) in 2 hours 25 minutes.
Australian Open 2026. Qualification
Angelina Kalinina (Ukraine) – Maya Chwalinska (Poland) – 5:7, 6:2, 6:1
Kalinina played against Khvalinskaya for the first time.
In addition to Maya, Angelina also beat Joanna Garland and Anouk Koevermans in the Australian Open qualifiers.
Kalinina will be playing in a Grand Slam tournament for the first time since last year’s Roland Garros. In early July 2025, Angelina was injured and only returned to tennis in December, immediately winning the WTA 125 cup in Limoges.
It will be Angelina’s fifth time playing in the main draw of an Australian major. His best result on the Melbourne courts was the third round in 2023.
Previously, Yulia Starodubtseva also passed the AO-2026 qualification. Kalinina and Starodubtseva join Elina Svitolina, Marta Kostyuk, Dayana Yastremskaya and Alexandra Oleynikova in the heart of slam.
Match statistics: Angelina Kalinina – Maya Khvalinskaya
Source: Sport UA
I am a sports journalist who has worked in print and online. I have authored articles for a sports website and have covered sports news for over 6 years.
January 15 Ukrainian tennis player Angelina Kalinina (WTA 178) will continue to compete to qualify for the 2026 Australian Open.
The Ukrainian player will face the Polish representative in the final of the selection Maya Khvalinskaya (WTA 145). The meeting will start at approximately 02:00 Kyiv time.
The best moments of tennis matches LIVE on Telegram channel Tennis on Sport.ua
This will be the first head-to-head meeting between the rivals.
The winner of the match will advance to the main draw of the Australian Open.
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Source: Sport UA
I am a sports journalist who has worked in print and online. I have authored articles for a sports website and have covered sports news for over 6 years.
January 15 Ukrainian tennis player Daria Snigur (WTA 136) will continue to compete to qualify for the 2026 Australian Open.
He will play against the Ukrainian player in the last round of the selection Alexandra Sasnovic (WTA 102). The match will start at 05.00 Kyiv time.
The best moments of tennis matches LIVE on Telegram channel Tennis on Sport.ua
This will be the rivals’ first meeting.
The winner of the match will advance to the main draw of the Australian Open.
Video player will be added later…
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Source: Sport UA
I am a sports journalist who has worked in print and online. I have authored articles for a sports website and have covered sports news for over 6 years.
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