CNN —For Ukrainian tennis players Marta Kostyuk and Lesia Tsurenko, focusing on tennis continues to be challenging.
Kostyuk and Tsurenko have continued to avoid the usual post-match handshakes with opponents from either Russia or Belarus, which is being used as a staging ground for the invasion.
“My mother sends me videos when there are missiles flying over their house,” Kostyuk told reporters.
2 seed Aryna Sabalenka and said playing against players from Russia or Belarus is still “tough.”“They’re part of that … war machine hurting my country and my people,” Tsurenko said.
“She said: ‘Great play,’” Sabalenka told reporters.
Persons:
Marta Kostyuk, Lesia, Tsurenko, Kostyuk, Russia’s Elina Avanesyan, “, ” Kostyuk, it’s, ”, “ It’s, It’s, Sabalenka, ” Tsurenko, Lesia Tsurenko, Phil Walter, what’s, ’ ” Sabalenka, Maria Timofeeva
Organizations:
CNN, “, ” CNN, Getty, Kostyuk
Locations:
Ukrainian, Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Melbourne, Russian