"Have to think about her family" - Martina Navratilova defends Russian professionals
Should Russian players speak out more publicly against the war in Ukraine? Tennis legend Martina Navratilova is cautious.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit:
Mar 17, 2022, 01:29 pm
The clear statements against the war between Russia and Ukraine are missing from the Russian tennis players. Andrey Rublev drew a "no war" on the camera in Dubai, Daniil Medvedev declared that he was in favor of peace - similar statements were made by colleagues.
But that's not enough for players from Ukraine. Marta Kostyuk said last week how disappointed she was with the tennis federations that Russian and Belarusian players were allowed to continue playing. And how angry she was with her colleagues, who would not position themselves clearly, would not give a clear statement on an end to the Russian invasion .
Navratilova: "I understand what Kostyuk means, how much it hurts"
"I don't think they should be asked to speak up about it because they have their families to think about and now they can get 15 years in prison if they talk about the war," Martina Navratilova told the New York Times .
Navratilova emigrated to the United States in 1975 when Czechoslovakia was still part of the Soviet bloc.
"Of course the Ukrainians are the victims here, but the athletes from Belarus or Russia would be the victims on the other side if they weren't allowed to play," the 65-year-old continued.
She still understands Marta Kostyuk. "I know it's so difficult emotionally," she said - and apparently speaks from experience. "I was 13, almost 14. I wanted to beat this junior, and when I shook her hand afterwards, I said, 'You see, your tanks can't beat us!'"
So she could empathize with the difficult situation. "You feel like you're playing for your country and that hurts! And I knew she had nothing to do with it, but I still took it personally. So I see what Kostyuk means, how much it hurts does," said the 18-time major winner in singles. "But I don't think you can punish people that way."