Marta Kostyuk, the Ukrainian tennis star, was reduced to tears after winning her first-round match at the French Open, as she disclosed that a Russian missile attack in Kyiv almost claimed the lives of her mother and sister.
Emotional Victory
The 23-year-old secured a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Oksana Selekhmeteva but was visibly emotional afterward. Her homeland had endured a night of intense bombardment, with Kyiv hit by 90 missiles and 600 drones, resulting in four deaths and approximately 100 injuries across the country.
During her press conference, Kostyuk displayed a photo on her phone showing the destruction, pointing out her parents' house near the smoke and flames that engulfed a nearby apartment complex.
A Close Call
Her mother, sister, and great aunt were at the property in Ukraine's capital on what Kostyuk described as one of the most difficult days since the war began in 2024.
She said: "Most of the morning I felt sick just for the thought that if it was 100 metres closer, I probably wouldn’t have a mum and a sister today."
"It was really difficult to just process it so quick and also go out and play. That’s why I’m also very happy that I played [the] first match, because I don’t know what would be the outcome if I played last, for example. It’s tough, but I’m very proud of myself today, of how we all handled it, and, you know, happy to be in the second round and that everyone is alive."
Kostyuk had not been able to speak to her family by phone at the time of the press conference but had been in contact via text with friends and relatives.
"Top-Three Worst Days"
The 15th seed at Roland Garros added: "It was just the closest that it has ever been to my house, and this is what probably makes it the most emotional. There are obviously, as I said, there are better days, worse days, but yeah, this one was, I would say top-three worst ones, for sure."
Kostyuk was questioned about whether the tennis tour has forgotten the war since its onset. Players from Russia and Belarus, including World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, are still required to compete without national flags.
The Ukrainian stated: "I’m still trying to do things that I can do, and do what I can to influence, and I use my platform, I use my speeches or whenever I have a moment to remind [people] about it, to remind of the horror of, you know, everyday lives of people."
