Tennis-Kostyuk, Tsurenko vow to keep spotlight on war in Ukraine

Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 19, 2024 Ukraine's Lesia Tsurenko in action during her third round match against Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka REUTERS/Tracey Nearmy

MELBOURNE (Reuters) -Marta Kostyuk and Lesia Tsurenko want to keep the focus at the Australian Open firmly on war-torn Ukraine, saying on Friday that people continue to suffer almost two years after the Russian invasion.

Ukrainian Kostyuk defeated Russian Elina Avanesyan 2-6 6-4 6-4 to move into the Melbourne Park fourth round for the first time, but the 21-year-old spent little time talking about her win and instead shifted the attention to the plight of her people.