Kostyuk overcomes missile strike near family home to secure French Open victory

Marta Kostyuk secured her first-round victory at the 2026 French Open on Sunday, defeating Oksana Selekhmeteva 6-2, 6-3 in 78 minutes. The 15th-seeded Ukrainian player described the contest as one of the most difficult of her career, citing the emotional distress caused by a Russian missile strike that landed approximately 100 metres from her parents’ home in Kyiv earlier that morning.

Kostyuk received news of the attack at 8 a.m. local time, learning that the explosion had destroyed a building where her mother, sister, and great aunt were present. She stated that she felt physically sick during the morning due to the fear for her family’s safety, noting that if the missile had landed 100 metres closer, her relatives may not have survived. No injuries were reported among the 17 people in the building.

Despite the trauma, Kostyuk did not consider withdrawing from the match. Speaking to the Roland Garros crowd, she explained that she drew strength from the resilience of the Ukrainian people, who continue to live their lives and support those in need despite the ongoing war. She received a standing ovation and support from fans displaying Ukrainian flags, including a spectator who described the victory as a gift to families back home.

During her post-match news conference, Kostyuk used her platform to criticise the WTA Tour for its silence on the conflict. She stated that while she had previously participated in fundraisers, the tour’s perceived forgetfulness of the war had motivated her to continue raising awareness. “I live it anyways, and I have also adapted to the fact that the tour forgot about it,” she said.

Kostyuk, who has not shaken hands with Russian players since the 2022 invasion, is set to face unseeded American Katie Volynets in the next round. Her countrywoman Elina Svitolina, a recent winner at the Italian Open, faces Anna Bondar on Monday. Svitolina, who is among the contenders for the title, has cited her return to the highest level of tennis as an inspiration for the younger generation in Ukraine.