WTA rival shocks with 'more testosterone' claims about Sabalenka and Swiatek
NewsTuesday, 21 October 2025 at 22:52
Ukrainian player Marta Kostyuk caused a stir by arguing that biological factors help players like Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek.
Kostyuk has made significant improvements in the last two years and is one of her country's best players. Still just 23, she could become a consistent fixture in the Top 10, but that will not be easy because of the WTA Tour's depth.
Despite many impressive results in 2024 and 2025, Kostyuk has not had any success against the two top-ranked women's players. In four matches against Sabalenka and three against Swiatek, she did not win a set.
In an interview with Tennis365 at the 2025 Wuhan Open, Kostyuk admitted she was not ready to play Swiatek when they played, but thinks the Pole and Sabalenka's physical strength is the most critical difference.
"Against Iga (Swiatek), when I have played her, I wasn’t ready to play her at all. I played her over a year ago and she was very strong. With Aryna (Sabalenka), I know it is a tough battle. I have my own skills, but at the end of the day, they are all much bigger than me, much taller than me, much stronger than me."
Kostyuk got more specific when the interviewer asked if she was intimidated by them. This year's Madrid Open champion said some players have more testosterone, and that she feels less formidable against Sabalenka and Swiatek.
"We all have our own biological structure. Some have a higher level of testosterone, some have lower. It’s just natural and that definitely helps. I feel smaller than them. I try to see how I can beat these players with the tennis skills I have, but I have to work harder to win the points. I have to run a lot more than them to win points."
The Ukrainian knows she needs to perform at her maximum level to have any chance against opponents like Sabalenka and Swiatek, and revealed she sometimes looks at post-match photos that demonstrate the height difference between her and other players.
"I cannot make myself 10kgs bigger or five centimetres taller, so I have to use everything I had at 100 percent. For other players, they have more of an advantage in other things. This is just the way I am."
"I look at the photos when we shake hands at the net and I look so much smaller than some of my opponents. It’s just part of the sport and a very cool challenge for me to take on these players. There are many, many things I can do to be better, but they have an advantage on me."
Read also
Swiatek and Kostyuk are almost the same height, at 1.76 m and 1.75 m, which is inconsistent with the latter's point about her and Sabalenka being taller. However, it is true that some athletes are naturally stronger than others of the same height. Kostyuk and French Open champion Coco Gauff are the same height.
Jasmine Paolini has most consistently defied the height disadvantage. Despite being 1.63 m(5 ft 4 in), she has reached two Grand Slam finals, won the 2024 Dubai Championships and 2025 Italian Open, and been the world No. 4.
Popular News
Just In
Loading