Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk Wins Roland Garros Match Hours After Rocket Hits Near Family Home

Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk secured a victory in her opening Roland Garros match by winning in straight sets.

In a deeply emotional moment, Kostyuk overcame personal pain and distress to triumph just hours after a rocket landed 100 meters from her parents' residence in Kyiv, underscoring the ongoing tragedy in Ukraine more than four years after the Russian invasion.

Victory Marked by Emotional Struggle

Ranked 15th globally, Kostyuk defeated Oksana Selekhmetieva, a Spanish player of Russian descent ranked 88th, with a score of 6-2, 6-3 in the tournament’s first round. However, the win carried a heavy psychological burden, leading Kostyuk to shed tears during her post-match speech.

Visibly affected, she stated, "I am very proud of myself today. I think it was one of the hardest matches of my life. I did not know how this match would go for me or how I would handle it. I cried part of the morning."

Symbolic Gesture and Message to the World

Following the match, Kostyuk declined to shake hands with her opponent of Russian origin, a symbolic act reflecting the deep wound felt by Ukrainians. She added, "I do not want to talk about myself today. Obviously, I am very happy to advance to the second round, but all my thoughts and heart were with the Ukrainian people today."

She concluded her remarks by saying "Thank you very much" in French, addressing the audience at the Simonne-Mathieu court who had warmly supported her, adding a profound human dimension to the opening rounds of the French Open.

Impressive Winning Streak on Clay Courts

This victory extended Kostyuk’s remarkable winning streak on clay courts to 12 consecutive matches without defeat since the start of 2026. She recently claimed titles at the Rouen and Madrid tournaments, which are also played on red clay surfaces.