Marta Kostyuk played her heart out, but it was not enough as Aryna Sabalenka won her second consecutive Brisbane International title with a 6-4, 6-3 victory.
Kostyuk was upbeat about the week she had.
“Well, for sure a great week for me. Three top-10 wins. Not more I could ask for.
“And given the fact I had just one top-10 win in the whole last year, so it’s a great beginning of the year for me.”
‘It’s gonna come one day’
Kostyuk was confident that she will win one of these big titles in the future.
“You know, it’s gonna come one day. I know I just have to keep working and, you know, I’m very happy about the week.”
Kostyuk emphasised how much progress she has made.
“I’m very happy with the week in general. I did a lot of progress on and off the court, and I think tennis is not a sprint, it’s a marathon.
“We have four slams a year. You know, it’s a lot of opportunities. You know, it’s opportunity every single week.
“So, I’m happy how I converted my opportunities this week, and I think that’s what I will take, for sure, with me.”
More determined mindset
Kostyuk revealed that she has a more determined mindset this year.
“I gave myself the best chance today.
“It didn’t work out, but I think that’s what counts in the end, because I felt like last year I almost gave up throughout the match against these players, and, you know, I haven’t done that this week, which for me is a very big win.
“I think it gives me a lot of opportunities in the future, too.”
Times are tough in Ukraine
During her on court interview after the loss, Kostyuk touched on how tough things are in the Ukraine with the war, power shortages, and temperatures as cold as minus 20 degrees Celsius.
Kostyuk also highlighted the need for her to speak up for her beliefs.
“I think it’s important for me to use my platform in the right way, and my platform is Ukraine, because I represent Ukraine, so I think it’s really important to talk about that.
“Yeah, I think, you know, I have such exposure, so many people follow me, so many people look up to me, kids and people.
“You know, I have just learned with the war and everything that’s going on that it’s really important to stand up for things and to talk about them, whether it’s war, whether it’s other beliefs, or the position that you have.
“No matter what it is, if it’s what you believe in, you have to talk about it. I think it’s really important for me also personally, because as I said on the court, my house, like the house where my parents live, it has heating, like they have generators, so even if there are blackouts, they can still push their electricity, so they can still heat up their house, but it’s still very cold inside.
“Like my husband’s parents are walking around in the jackets at home because of how cold it is.
“So, you know, I’m here, I do my job, of course, this is the most important thing, but at the same time, like, the reality back home is very, very different.
“So, I just, I feel like I cannot ignore it and I have to share it.
“I have platform for this, and I have voice.
“Yeah, you know, it’s not, in my position, it’s not okay to not talk about it. It’s just, I mean, it’s just gonna be inhumane for me.”
Emotional experience
It was a very emotional experience to witness Kostyuk open up and be vulnerable about how life is currently in her homeland.
Her positive attitude and bravery can only mean that her world ranking will improve from its current level of 20.
Kostyuk will no doubt continue to inspire people on and off the court.
Dave Marshall is reporting exclusively from the Brisbane International in Brisbane for The South African.
