Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk chose to withdraw from her final match at the 2023 Negometal Open de Bourg-de-Peage tournament, against 16-year-old Russian opponent Mirra Andreeva due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Kostyuk, ranked world No. 39,
made the decision just hours before the scheduled match on Sunday, December 17,
where she was set to face Andreeva in the women's final. Originally stepping in
as a replacement for Donna Vekic, who withdrew earlier due to shoulder pain,
Kostyuk's withdrawal was attributed to reasons "beyond our will" and
the geopolitical context in Ukraine, according to a statement released by
tournament organizers.
As a result of Kostyuk's
withdrawal, organizers had to find a new opponent for Andreeva, ultimately
selecting 23-year-old men's player Yanis Ghazouani Durand, ranked No. 1145 on
the ATP Tour. Despite the short notice, Ghazouani Durand defeated Andreeva 7-5,
6-2, with Andreeva receiving the tournament trophy despite the loss.
The episode underscored the
impact of geopolitical tensions on sports, as Kostyuk's decision reflected the
broader implications of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
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