Tearful Kostyuk Reaches French Open Second Round Amid Missile Attack in Ukraine Marta Kostyuk’s emotional journey to the second round of the French Open began with a harrowing realization that a missile strike had narrowly missed her family’s home in Ukraine just hours before her match. The 15th-seeded player from Ukraine, competing on Court Simonne-Mathieu, defeated Oksana Selekhmeteva 6-2, 6-3 on the opening day of the 2026 tournament. Her victory, however, was overshadowed by the trauma of learning that a missile had struck a building 100 meters from her parents’ residence, where her mother, sister, and great aunt were present at the time. Kostyuk described the incident as one of the most difficult moments of her career, revealing she had been “crying part of the morning” after receiving the news. “I didn’t know how I would handle it,” she said, her voice trembling. “If it was 100 meters closer, I probably wouldn’t have a mom and a sister today.” Despite the trauma, she expressed relief that no one was injured and emphasized her determination to continue competing. “I knew a lot of Ukrainian flags would be here today and a lot of Ukrainian people would come out to support,” she said, her words punctuated by tears. The match itself was a test of resilience. Kostyuk’s focus on the court allowed her to overcome early challenges, securing her place in the second round. She next faces unseeded American Katie Volynets, while compatriot Elina Svitolina, a recent Italian Open champion, will take on Anna Bondar. Kostyuk’s emotional strength was further highlighted by her gratitude toward fans, who cheered her on after the match, and her acknowledgment of the broader Ukrainian spirit. “I looked at all these people who woke up and kept living their life,” she said, “keeping helping people who are in need.#ukraine #french_open #katie_volynets #missile_attack #martas_kostyuk
Former world No. 1 Kim Clijsters makes unexpected coaching return in Paris Former world No. 1 Kim Clijsters returned to Roland Garros—the site of her two Grand Slam final appearances—as a coach for American player Katie Volynets. The 24-year-old Volynets, ranked world No. 108, secured a first-round victory at the French Open with a 6-3, 6-1 win over local player Clara Burel. Clijsters, who officially retired from professional tennis in 2022, is temporarily coaching Volynets, a role the Belgian confirmed was planned since November 2025. Volynets described her partnership with Clijsters as a significant opportunity, stating she had been practicing with Clijsters’ guidance and was “really happy to have her here.” Clijsters’ coaching debut at the French Open follows a career marked by multiple retirements. She first retired in 2007 at age 23 to start a family, returned to the sport in 2010, and retired again in 2012 after an eight-year hiatus. She made a final comeback before her official retirement in 2022. During her second retirement, she briefly worked with Romanian player Sorana Cîrstea at Wimbledon 2018, though the collaboration ended after Cîrstea’s early exit. Despite receiving coaching offers from players on the WTA Tour, Clijsters had not accepted any prior to her partnership with Volynets. Volynets, a former world No. 56, is seeking to build momentum at the French Open. Her victory over Burel marked her third consecutive second-round appearance at the tournament. Clijsters’ involvement is expected to provide strategic and technical support, leveraging her extensive experience as a former top player. Volynets acknowledged the value of Clijsters’ presence, emphasizing her excitement about the partnership. Clijsters is not the only former WTA player to transition into coaching.#kim_clijsters #katie_volynets #sorana_cirstea #roland_garros #clara_burel
Linz WTA 500 Qualifying Draw Sets Up High-Stakes Matches for French Players The qualifying draw for the Linz WTA 500 tournament has been finalized, setting the stage for intense battles as several top-ranked players aim to secure their spots in the main draw. Among the key matchups, Frenchwoman Océane Dodin faces a formidable challenge against world No. 86 and top-seeded qualifier Katie Volynets in her opening match. Dodin, a former top 50 player and world No. 564 this week, is seeking to continue her climb in the rankings. Her path to the main draw will require overcoming Volynets, a player known for her strong clay-court performance and recent form. Another French player, Carole Monnet, also faces a tough opener. Ranked world No. 171, Monnet is looking to bounce back from a recent first-round loss to Katarzyna Kawa at the Bogotá WTA 250. Her qualifying match will be against Donna Vekić, a world No. 115 player with a history of success on clay. Vekić, a Wimbledon semifinalist just two years ago, poses a significant threat to Monnet’s chances of advancing. Both players will need to demonstrate resilience and tactical precision to navigate the qualifying process, which requires two straight victories. The qualifying draw also features other notable matches, including Quinn Comesana’s encounter with Navone Merida Aguilar, Dzumhur’s clash against Blockx, and Pegula’s match against Starodubtseva. These pairings highlight the competitive nature of the qualifying rounds, where players from varying rankings and backgrounds will test their skills. The tournament’s structure ensures that only the most determined and skilled athletes will advance to the main draw, adding an extra layer of excitement to the event.#carole_monnet #donna_vekic #katie_volynets #linz_wta_500 #oceane_dodin
WTA Miami Day 1 Predictions Including Siniakova vs Osorio Bianca Andreescu faces Katie Volynets in the qualifying rounds, with Andreescu holding a 2-0 head-to-head advantage. Despite her recent success in lower-tier tournaments and her return to the Top 150, Andreescu’s fitness may be tested after playing six matches in seven days, with five extending to three sets. Volynets, known for her baseline resilience, could exploit this by turning the match into a grueling endurance test. The prediction leans toward Volynets securing a three-set victory. Donna Vekic takes on Lulu Sun in another qualifying clash, where Vekic has a 1-0 record. Vekic’s emotional response to a recent loss to Cristina Bucsa highlights her determination, and her recent performance against Jessica Pegula suggests she can push for a strong result. Sun, though struggling early in the year, has shown flashes of potential, but Vekic’s aggressive style and ability to generate winners from the back of the court may give her the edge. The prediction favors Vekic winning in two sets. Laura Siegemund and Petra Marcinko meet in a match where Siegemund has a 1-0 edge. Siegemund’s inconsistent start to 2026, with just two wins in seven matches, contrasts with Marcinko’s recent form. Their previous encounter in Indian Wells saw Marcinko outperform Siegemund with aces and initiative. The faster courts in Miami could benefit Marcinko, who might capitalize on Siegemund’s fatigue to flip the result. Marcinko is predicted to win in three sets. Katerina Siniakova and Camila Osorio clash in a rematch from Doha, where Osorio claimed a hard-fought victory. Siniakova downplayed injury concerns after retiring in a singles match, but her doubles success in Indian Wells shows her versatility.#donna_vekic #bianca_andreescu #katie_volynets #wta_miami #lulu_sun
Suzan Lamens i Bianca Andreescu spotkają się w kwalifikacjach Miami Open, które odbywają się na kortach w stolicy Florydy. Turniej to czwarty zespół rangi 1000 w kalendarzu WTA, tworzący z Indian Wells tzw. Sunshine Double. W historii zawodniczki zdołały wygrać obie edycje w jednym sezonie tylko cztery osoby, w tym Iga Świątek, która triumfowała w 2022 roku i stała się liderką rankingu WTA. Obecnie szansę na podobny sukces ma Aryna Sabalenka, która w finale BNP Paribas Open w Indian Wells pokonała Jelenę Rybakinę. Lamens, holenderska zawodniczka, zaczyna sezon w Sydney, gdzie w United Cup przegrała z Igą Świątek i Evą Lys. W kwalifikacjach Indian Wells przegrała z Marią Timofiejewą, a później w Austin z Kamilą Rachimową. Teraz w Miami nie spotka się z Rosjanką z paszportem Uzbekistanu, choć mogła. 25-letnia Andreescu, mistrzyni US Open z 2019 roku, po pandemii awansowała do trzeciej setki rankingu, ale nie jest faworytką w starciu na Grandstandzie. Rywalką Kanadyjki była Suzan Lamens, która w przeszłości wygrała turniej w Osace. W USA przegrała w kwalifikacjach Indian Wells z Marią Timofiejewą, a później w Austin z Rachimową. Teraz w Miami zagra w finale o miejsce w głównej drabince z Katie Volynets. Andreescu, która przed pandemią była czwartą zawodniczką świata, wygrała turnieje w Indian Wells i Nowym Jorku, a później stała się wielkoszlemową mistrzynią. Przypłaciła to ciężką kontuzją, a później zdrowie dawało o sobie znać. Na początku sezonu odpuściła wyjazd do Australii, budowała formę w mniejszych turniejach ITF w USA, wygrywała je. Po nieudanym starcie Indian Wells przegrała z Rachimową, poleciała na WTA 125 w Austin i dotarła do finału, wygrywając m.in. z Paulą Badosą. Lamens, która miała prawo być zmęczona po ciężkim poprzednim tygodniu, nie mogła złapać rytmu na returnie.#miami_open #iga_swiatek #bianca_andreescu #suzan_lamens #katie_volynets
