What is the controversy with Naomi Osaka's ASB Classic opponent Lina Glushko? All you need to know about the protests against the ex-IDF soldier

Naomi Osaka kicked off her 2025 season with a 6-4, 6-4 win over World No. 220 Lina Glushko. While the former World No.1 cruised through the match, it wasn't the same for her opponent, in more ways than one as she became the target of protestors.

Glushko's parents are originally from Ukraine but moved to Israel before she was born. She also served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), as is the case for most people from the country. The current conflict between Israel and Gaza has been going on for more than a year, with no end in sight.

Glushko has been vocal in support of her country and has frequently posted on social media about the same. Both parties involved in the conflict have been criticized for their actions. This time, given her nationality, protestors turned up outside the ASB Classic and started chanting against her country.

The play was disrupted only for a couple of minutes towards the end of the first set before it resumed. As the protestors weren't on the grounds of the venue and outside of it, security couldn't do much to get rid of them. The protestors remained there until the end of the match but their chanting wasn't as loud as before.

While Glushko wasn't seemingly affected by what was going on outside, she found it tough to cope with Osaka's firepower. While she did manage to keep up with her, she came up short in crucial moments and lost the match.

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Lina Glushko is the younger sister of former top 100 player Julia Glushko

Julia Gluhsko at the French Open 2019. (Photo: Getty)

Lina Glushko is following in the footsteps of her older sister Julia, who was also a tennis player. The latter peaked at No. 79 in the WTA rankings, and her most notable result was reaching the third round of the US Open in 2013, and the French Open in 2014.

The Glushko sisters also played doubles from time to time. Julia Glushko retired in 2019. She played the final match of her career in front of her home crowd in September. She bowed out in the first round in singles, and the quarterfinals in doubles.

Lina Glushko will now aim to surpass the achievements of her older sister. She has a long way to go as she's yet to make her main draw debut at the Majors. She has peaked at No. 201 in the rankings and has won three titles on the ITF circuit.