Marta Kostyuk Says Russian Missile Struck Near Parents’ Kyiv Home Before French Open Win

Marta Kostyuk said a Russian missile struck a building close to her parents’ home in Kyiv shortly before she played at the French Open, describing the moment as “one of the most difficult matches of my career.”

“PARIS (FRANCE) - Marta Kostyuk dedicated her first-round win on Sunday at Roland Garros to her home country of Ukraine, saying the war got "the closest it has ever been to my house" after her family home narrowly avoided being struck by a missile”

Bangkok Post

Kostyuk, the 15th seed, told reporters that “This morning, 100 meters away from my parents’ house, a missile destroyed the building,” and she said she received a message at 8 a.m. and could not stop thinking about what could have happened.

Bangkok Post

She said her mother, sister and great aunt were in the house at the time of the strike, among 17 people in total, and she said she was relieved that no one was injured.

The BBC reported that Russia launched a wave of overnight strikes against Ukraine on Saturday, firing “hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles,” with four people killed in Kyiv and the wider region and about 100 injured.

After beating Oksana Selekhmeteva 6-2, 6-3 on Court Simonne-Mathieu, Kostyuk dedicated the win to Ukraine and said she did not consider withdrawing from the clay-court major after receiving the news.

Kostyuk fought back tears after her first-round win and said she had been crying part of the morning, telling the BBC that “Most of the morning I felt sick because I thought if it was 100m closer, I probably wouldn't have a mum and a sister today.”

In her on-court interview, she said she had to live through the attack and go out and play, adding, “I had to live through it and deal with it and go out and play.”

BBC

The BBC said Kostyuk was cheered by the crowd as she told them, “I have been crying this morning. I don't want to talk about myself today,” and she said “All my heart and all my thoughts go to the people of Ukraine today.”

The Guardian reported that Kostyuk began her post-match press conference by showing a photo from her phone of the destruction close to her family home, where her mother, sister and great aunt live.

The Guardian also reported that Kostyuk has chosen to continue refusing to shake hands with Russian-born opponents who have not spoken out against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and it said she did not shake hands with Selekhmeteva.

Beyond Kostyuk’s personal account, the BBC said Russia’s overnight strikes left four people killed in Kyiv and the wider region and about 100 injured, and it described Kostyuk as “scared” even though she said none of her family or close friends had been injured.

“Marta Kostyuk Says Missile Struck Near Her Parents' Home in Ukraine Before Her Roland-Garros Match Marta Kostyuk revealed after her first round victory (6-2, 6-3) over Oksana Selekhmeteva at Roland-Garros that a Russian missile strike occurred near her parents' home in Kyiv, Ukraine before she took the court on Sunday”

Bleacher Report

Kostyuk said she did not acknowledge Selekhmeteva, who was playing her first match under the Spanish flag after switching allegiance earlier this week, and the BBC said Ukrainian players have a long-standing policy of not shaking hands with opponents from Russia and its ally Belarus.

The New York Times reported that Kostyuk trains in her home country a couple of times a year and has practised with air raids taking place overhead, with drones and explosions audible in the distance.

In a separate interview earlier this month, the New York Times quoted Kostyuk saying, “People are dying, people are suffering. It’s a terrible, terrible situation,” and it said she added that her heart was with people in Ukraine who are “almost daily being bombarded by Russia and Belarus.”

The BBC said Kostyuk will face Katie Volynets next after the American beat France’s Clara Burel 6-3 6-1, keeping the focus on her next match as the war continues to shape the context around her tournament run.