Amidst a tense atmosphere on the Court 2, Russian Anastasia Potapova triumphed over Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk in a 6-1, 6-3 victory at the 2023 Miami Open.
Potapova paved her way to a third-round face-off with American prodigy, Coco Gauff, who defeated Rebecca Marino in the second round. Thursday evening's encounter between the two players was charged with political undertones, adding extra spice to an already highly anticipated match.
Potapova, who recently received a formal warning from the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) for donning a Spartak Moscow t-shirt before her match with Jessica Pegula at Indian Wells, demonstrated her determination to focus on her game amidst the controversy.
The WTA had expressed its disapproval of her choice of attire, emphasizing the importance of maintaining an appropriate image on the court.
The No. 27 seed's win against Kostyuk took place in a match devoid of the customary handshake, which has become a symbol of sportsmanship in tennis. Kostyuk, who hails from Ukraine, has been vocal about her disapproval of sharing the court with Russian players, given the ongoing conflict between the two nations that began in February last year.
Despite the frosty atmosphere and heightened emotions, Potapova managed to maintain her composure and deliver a commanding performance against Kostyuk. After the match, both players were quizzed about the situation and Kostyuk said:
“Obviously there is tension. Like, we're not friends. We're at war at the moment. There are a lot of things that I don't agree with that WTA is doing. Warning? Whatever. You give her a warning. Do you want to suspend someone? I don't know. I can't comment on that really. It's just funny.”
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