Marta Kostyuk secured a victory over Oksana Selekhmeteva at Roland Garros despite the emotional turmoil of a missile landing near her family home in Kyiv. The match, lasting 1 hour and 18 minutes, took a backseat to the distressing news she received earlier that day. Kostyuk described it as one of her top three worst days, with her thoughts frequently drifting back to the situation at home during the game.
She managed to maintain composure on the court, although she admitted to being distracted by thoughts of the missile strike. The 11 am match start possibly helped her by allowing limited time to process the shocking event. Kostyuk’s family, who experienced a sleepless night in Kyiv, spent Sunday trying to find calm amidst the chaos.
Despite the ongoing war in Ukraine, Kostyuk’s performance on clay courts remains impressive, with a 12-match winning streak. Her recent victory in Madrid showcased her strong form on clay. However, the challenges off the court continue to impact her, as the war in Ukraine intruded into her tennis match in Paris.
