Ukrainian tennis star Marta Kostyuk has sparked controversy after she suggested the world's top two players have "higher levels of testosterone" resulting in competitive advantages.
The world No27 made the claims about Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek during an interview with Tennis 365 at the Wuhan Open, insisting both players are "much bigger" and "much stronger" than her.
Kostyuk stands at 5'9" - exactly the same height as Swiatek, and two inches shorter than Sabalenka.
Speaking to Tennis 365, Kostyuk explained her perspective: "We all have our own biological structure. Some have a higher level of testosterone, some have lower. It's just natural and that definitely helps.
Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek have been accused of 'higher levels of testosterone' that give them competitive advantages
|REUTERS
"I feel smaller than them. I try to see how I can beat these players with the tennis skills I have, but I have to work harder to win the points. I have to run a lot more than them to win points.
"I cannot make myself 10 kilograms bigger or five centimetres taller, so I have to use everything I had at 100 per cent.
Ukrainian tennis star Marta Kostyuk admitted 'I feel smaller than them'
|REUTERS
"For other players, they have more of an advantage in other things. This is just the way I am. I look at the photos when we shake hands at the net and I look so much smaller than some of my opponents.
"It’s just part of the sport and a very cool challenge for me to take on these players. There are many, many things I can do to be better, but they have an advantage on me."
Kostyuk's claims have drawn criticism from tennis fans on social media, particularly given that several shorter players compete successfully at the highest level.
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"Easily one of the most pitiful and refutable excuses I’ve ever heard," one fan wrote.
A second added: "If you can’t win - everything else is an excuse. And this is some next level excuse!"
While a third questioned: "What if she played against Serena?"
World No3 Coco Gauff, who beat Sabalenka to win this year's French Open, matches Kostyuk's height, while Jessica Pegula at No5 stands at 5'7" and Jasmine Paolini at No6 is just 5'4".
Aryna Sabalenka took to Instagram to post glamorous photos in response to the comments from Marta Kostyuk
|"I look at the photos when we shake hands at the net and I look so much smaller than some of my opponents," Kostyuk continued. "It's just part of the sport and a very cool challenge for me to take on these players."
Kostyuk's struggles against the world's top two are reflected in her match records - her head-to-head stands at 0-4 against Sabalenka and 0-3 against Swiatek.
"Their confidence is just different," she admitted about facing Sabalenka. "She just doesn't care. She has no doubt that she will save them."
"For me, it is not so easy for me to play without doubt."
At the recent Wuhan Open, Kostyuk suffered defeat at the hands of Czech player Karolína Muchová, who also got the better of the Ukrainian in the US Open Round of 16.
"As the year comes to an end, I have some frustrations. I feel like I need to take the last few steps to overcome this," she admitted after her defeat.
It seems Sabalenka could have offered a subtle response to the claims, taking to Instagram and posting a selection of glamorous bikini photos on Instagram from Dubai.
"Much-needed girls' day with my bestie," Sabalenka captioned the images, which showed the pair lounging by the pool and dining at the five-star venue.
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