Marta Kostyuk’s first-round win at the French Open became one of her toughest matches. Before the match, she learned that a missile almost hit her parents’ home in Ukraine.
Kostyuk fought back tears after beating Oksana Selekhmeteva 6-2, 6-3 on Court Simonne-Mathieu on the opening day of the clay-court Grand Slam at Roland Garros.
Kostyuk’s Emotional Reaction
“I think it was one of the most difficult matches of my career,” the 15th-seeded Kostyuk said. “This morning, 100 meters away from my parents’ house, the missile destroyed the building and it was a very difficult morning for me … I didn’t know how I would handle it, I’ve been crying part of the morning.”
Kostyuk received a message at 8 a.m. and could not stop thinking 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.”
Family’s Safety Amidst the Attack
Her mother, sister and great aunt — were in the house at the time of the strike, she said, among 17 people in total. Her relief was enormous that no one was injured.
“I don’t want to think what I would do if something worse happened, but I knew that this is the day to go out and play,” she said. “It didn’t cross my mind today that I shouldn’t go out, because, you know, at the end of the day, everyone is alive.”
Finding Strength to Compete
After the match, she thanked fans and received an ovation. Then she explained how she found the emotional and mental resources to play.
“I think it’s important to keep going. My biggest example is Ukrainian people, I woke up in the morning today and,” the 23-year-old Kostyuk said, becoming tearful before repeating and finishing the sentence.
“I looked at all these people who woke up and kept living their life, kept helping people who are in need,” she.
Djokovic’s Victory
In the opening night session at Roland Garros, Novak Djokovic beat home player Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 5-7, 7-5, 6-1, 6-4 in his record 82nd Grand Slam.