Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk secured a victory in her opening-round match at the French Open, just hours after a missile strike occurred approximately 100 metres from her parents' home in Kyiv. The 23-year-old became emotional during her on-court interview, tearfully describing the morning as "very difficult" and dedicating her thoughts and heart to the people of Ukraine.
A Morning of Fear
Kostyuk revealed that she received a message at 8 a.m. about the incident and could not stop thinking about what could have happened. "I felt sick," she said. "If it was 100 meters closer, I probably wouldn't have a mom and a sister today." The missile strike near her family home was part of a wider wave of Russian attacks overnight that resulted in four fatalities in Kyiv and at least 83 injuries across Ukraine.
Victory Under Strain
Kostyuk, the 15th seed, defeated Russian-born Oksana Selekhmeteva, who now represents Spain. Notably, she did not shake her opponent's hand, maintaining a stance adopted by Ukrainian players against Russian or Belarusian competitors. Currently in strong form, having recently won the Madrid Open and Rouen Open, Kostyuk described the match as "one of the most difficult" of her career.
Looking Ahead
Kostyuk is set to face Katie Volynets of the USA in the second round. Her emotional victory has drawn widespread support, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by Ukrainian athletes amid the conflict.
