Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk, currently ranked 27th in the WTA rankings, has sparked controversy on the women’s circuit after suggesting that some of the leading figures in tennis, such as Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, enjoy a “biological advantage” derived from “higher testosterone levels”. The statements were made in an interview with the specialist website Tennis365.
I have to work harder to earn every point
In her words, Kostyuk points out that she perceives notable physical differences compared to the leaders of the world ranking. “Each player has their own biological structure and there are some who have higher testosterone levels and others lower. It’s something natural that definitely helps them,” she says. The Ukrainian adds that, in her case, she feels at a disadvantage against rivals who are “bigger, stronger and taller,” so she must “work harder to win every point”.
The Kiev native acknowledges that this physical difference translates into a constant challenge on the court. “I can’t gain ten kilos or five centimetres in height, so I have to use everything I have 100 per cent. There are players who have more advantage in other aspects, but that’s sport,” she says.
Words of respect
Despite the seriousness of the subject, Kostyuk also shows respect for the two tennis players she refers to. Of Sabalenka, the world number one, she highlights her mental toughness in decisive moments: “I’ve played very close matches against Aryna and you can see how she handles break points, she has no doubts. That confidence helps her a lot.”
About Swiatek, number two in the ranking, she said that “she was not ready to face her” when they met more than a year ago.
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