Marta Kostyuk, a Ukrainian tennis player, reached her first Wimbledon semifinal Wednesday, immediately criticizing the International Olympic Committee's decision to recommend that individual sports drop neutral status for Russian athletes. Russian players have competed as neutrals since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, a decision the Kremlin welcomed. Kostyuk, however, called the move "terrible" and "far from fair play," stating she "100% don't agree" and hopes to defeat any Russian players at the Olympics.

Kostyuk, the 12th seed, faces Linda Noskova in the semifinals. This marks her second consecutive Grand Slam semifinal appearance, following a loss to Russian Mirra Andreeva at the French Open, where the customary handshake between Russian and Ukrainian players was omitted.

The context for Kostyuk's stance is severe. While she plays at Wimbledon, Ukraine faces ongoing attacks. She recently had to block out news of Russian missile strikes near her parents' home to compete. Kostyuk acknowledged the difficulty of disconnecting from the war's realities, especially after recent deadly attacks on Kyiv that killed civilians, including children.

Kostyuk's semifinal run is significant for Ukraine, as she is the second Ukrainian woman to reach this stage at Wimbledon. Her potential advancement to the final would be a historic moment for her country.