"If they don't reply, I definitely know they're Russians": Marta Kostyuk on 'Glory to Ukraine' motto in Stuttgart final speech

Marta Kostyuk has opened up about a Ukrainian saying following her disappointing loss to Elena Rybakina in the final of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart.

Kostyuk reached the final of the WTA 500 event after pulling off some notable shocks. The unseeded Ukrainian ousted fifth seed Qinwen Zheng, third seed Coco Gauff, and sixth seed Marketa Vondrousova on her way to the final in Stuttgart.

However, against Rybakina in the final, Kostyuk looked fatigued and a shadow of the player she was across the previous rounds. The Ukrainian's chances in the final were dealt a further blow by an outstanding Rybakina, who took just over an hour to win her third title of the 2024 season.

Kostyuk ended her runner-up speech with the Ukrainian saying, "Slava Ukraini!" and was quizzed about its meaning during her post-match press conference. In her response, the 21-year-old explained the meaning of the saying and how the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict has propelled it to the mainstream.

"It's a saying we say in Ukraine. This is "Glory to Ukraine." People reply, "Glory to heroes." I used to say it before, as well, but it became more mainstream when the war began," Kostyuk said.

The Porsche Tennis Grand Prix runner-up also laid bare how she uses the saying to identify Ukrainians in places with considerable Russian inhabitants. She cited the example of Monaco.

"We're in Monaco, for example, there are a lot of Russians, of course, and Ukrainian people, and if I see someone that I think is Ukrainian, I say, "Slava Ukraini!" If they don't reply, I definitely know that they are Russians," Kostyuk added.

Marta Kostyuk became tearful in concern for her family in Ukraine after finishing as the runner-up at the San Diego Open

Marta Kostyuk at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix Stuttgart 2024

Kostyuk reached the final of the San Diego Open earlier this year, but failed to clinch the title as Katie Boulter got the better of the Ukrainian. During her post-match speech, she choked up with tears as she expressed her concern for her family in Ukraine.

"First of all everyone in the stands... Slava Ukraini. I don't want to make it too sad, I want to say thank you to my family back home. It's been a difficult last couple of nights for Ukraine. My family is in Ukraine right now. I don't know what's gonna happen tomorrow," Kostyuk said.

So far this season, Kostyuk has registered 19 wins and seven losses on the WTA Tour.