Kostyuk Says Top Players Have 'Higher Testosterone'

Marta Kostyuk told Tennis365 in Wuhan that she believes some top players, notably Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Świątek, enjoy a “biological advantage” from “higher testosterone levels,” comments that have sparked controversy. She said she feels physically smaller and must run more and rely on skill because she “cannot make myself ten kilograms bigger or five centimetres taller.” Kostyuk is listed at 5ft 9in — the same height as Świątek and two inches shorter than Sabalenka — and she is 0-4 versus Sabalenka and 0-3 versus Świątek, with several close matches this season. She praised Sabalenka’s mental toughness and said she was unready for Świątek when they last met, framing the issue as a natural sporting challenge she aims to overcome rather than a personal attack. Some outlets have framed her remarks as a hormonal explanation for performance, adding to on-court and political tensions between players.