Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk faced intense emotional challenges during her first-round win at the French Open. Kostyuk learned that a missile had nearly hit her parents’ home in Ukraine just hours before her match on Court Simonne-Mathieu at Roland Garros, Paris.
Kostyuk’s victory against Oksana Selekhmeteva, with scores of 6-2, 6-3, was overshadowed by the distressing news she received earlier that day. The 15th-seeded player struggled to hold back tears as she explained the difficulty of playing under such conditions.
“This morning, 100 meters away from my parents’ house, the missile destroyed the building. I didn’t know how I would handle it,” Kostyuk said.
A message at 8 a.m. delivered the shocking news. The proximity of the blast was just 100 meters from her family’s home, endangering 17 residents, including her mother and sister. The relief that her loved ones were unharmed was immense.
“If it was 100 meters closer, I probably wouldn’t have a mom and a sister today,” she shared. Despite the emotional turmoil, Kostyuk felt compelled to play, grateful for the safety of her family.
After her match, Kostyuk received an ovation and thanked her supporters. She drew inspiration from the resilience of the Ukrainian people.
“I woke up and looked at those who kept living and helping others,” she said. “I knew Ukrainian flags and people would be here today.”
In her match, Kostyuk served for victory at 5-1 but was broken. She managed to seal her win on the next opportunity, acknowledging fans displaying a Ukrainian flag. Her next opponent is unseeded American Katie Volynets, while fellow Ukrainian Elina Svitolina will face Anna Bondar.
The Heat at Roland Garros
Sunday’s opening day also brought high temperatures, reaching 33 degrees Celsius (91 Fahrenheit). The heat affected players, including Frenchman Arthur Gea, who took an emergency bathroom break during his match against No. 13 Karen Khachanov on Court Suzanne-Lenglen.
Spectators coped by fanning themselves with newspapers while players focused on staying hydrated. The day featured No. 11 Belinda Bencic defeating Sinja Kraus 6-2, 6-3 on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
The night match on the same court featured Novak Djokovic against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. Djokovic, having just turned 39, aimed for his men’s record 82nd Grand Slam appearance, surpassing Roger Federer and Feliciano Lopez.
AP Sports Writer Andrew Dampf contributed to this report.