The Russia-Ukraine war looms over the French Open – and tennis has no answers

The 2026 French Open women's quarter-finals have highlighted the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict in tennis, with the line-up consisting of one Polish player, one Romanian, two Ukrainians, and four players from Russia or Belarus competing under a neutral white flag. The presence of Russian and Belarusian players alongside Ukrainians — including outspoken advocate Marta Kostyuk — has reignited debate about tennis's inability to resolve the ethical flashpoint created by the war. The situation has drawn renewed scrutiny at Roland Garros, where the sport's governing bodies have yet to find a satisfactory answer to the issue.