No handshake, no silence: Kostyuk’s political signal shadows Sabalenka’s Brisbane crown
The trophy ceremony in Brisbane was defined by a missing handshake and Kostyuk’s harrowing account of a family surviving in Ukraine.
Marta Kostyuk, Brisbane 2026 | © Imago / PsNewz
The 2026 Brisbane International final served as a stark reminder of the world’s enduring fractures. While World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka secured her second Brisbane title with a clinical 6-4, 6-3 victory over Marta Kostyuk, the post-match ceremony was defined not by the trophy, but by a missing handshake and a harrowing account of survival.
For Marta Kostyuk from Ukraine, the runner-up trophy was secondary to the survival of her family. Standing before the Australian crowd, she was visibly moved as she turned the spotlight toward the escalating humanitarian crisis at home.
Since the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian armed forces, most of Ukrainian tennis players have maintained a consistent no-handshake policy with opponents from Russia and allies, like Belarus, as a symbolic gesture of protest and a reminder of the ongoing conflict in their homeland.
Kostyuk : “Just inhumane for me”
“I wanna say a few words about Ukraine. I play every day with pain in my heart,” Kostyuk shared on court. “There are thousands of people who are without light and warm water right now. It’s -20 degrees outside… My sister is sleeping under three blankets because of how cold it is.”
Later, in her press conference, Kostyuk defended her decision to use the podium for advocacy rather than victory speeches. “I have voice,” she insisted. “In my position, it’s not okay to not talk about it. It’s just… inhumane for me.” She detailed the brutal reality of blackouts, noting that while her parents have generators, other relatives are forced to “walk around in jackets at home” to survive the winter.
Sabalanka on The Athlete’s “Neutral” Stance
Across the net, Sabalenka maintained the “athlete-first” armor she has donned since the conflict began. When asked about the lack of a handshake, the champion remained detached.
“Well, it’s their position. What can I do? I don’t mind that,” Sabalenka told reporters. “When I go out there, I think about my tennis… it doesn’t matter if it’s Marta Kostyuk or Jessica Pegula there. I still go out there and I still try my best… I have nothing to prove. I go there and I just compete as an athlete.”
This neutrality, however, carries the weight of a complex history. Sabalenka took a significant step in distancing herself from the Belarusian government. After skipping press conferences in 2023 to protect her mental health, she explicitly stated, “I don’t support the war, meaning I don’t support [president Alexander] Lukashenko right now.”
That milestone remains a pivotal context for her current status: she is a player who has already staked her claim of political independence, even as, as Kostyuk’s gestures suggest, her opponents demand more.
