French Open 2026: Marta Kostyuk Dedicates Victory to Ukraine Amid Russian Strikes Marta Kostyuk, the 15th-seeded Ukrainian player, secured a hard-fought first-round victory at the French Open, defeating Russian-born opponent Oksana Selekhmeteva 6-2 6-3. The win came just days after Russian airstrikes targeted Kyiv, where Kostyuk’s family home narrowly avoided damage. Speaking after the match, Kostyuk expressed deep emotional turmoil, dedicating her success to the people of Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict. The attacks, which occurred the night before her match, left four people dead and over 100 injured in Kyiv and surrounding areas. Kostyuk revealed that none of her family or close friends were harmed, but the proximity of the strikes left her shaken. “Most of the morning I felt sick because I thought if it was 100 meters closer, I probably wouldn’t have a mum and a sister today,” she said. The player described the experience as “one of the most difficult matches” of her career, struggling to balance her emotions with the demands of competition. Despite the trauma, Kostyuk chose to remain in the tournament, stating, “Not this morning, because everyone is healthy, alive, and never [needed to go] in the hospital.” She acknowledged that the memory of the attacks lingered during the match, forcing her to confront her fears on the court. “There were obviously times in the match when I would go back to thinking about it,” she admitted. Kostyuk, a vocal critic of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine since February 2022, has consistently used her platform to support her homeland. During her on-court interview, she addressed the crowd, saying, “I have been crying this morning. I don’t want to talk about myself today. All my heart and all my thoughts go to the people of Ukraine today.#oksana_selekhmeteva #kyiv #martakostyuk #french_open_2026 #russian_airstrikes
