Ukrainian player dedicates French Open win to country after missile strike near family home

Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk won her French Open first-round match on Sunday after a Russian missile struck a building 100 meters from her parents' home in Kyiv earlier that morning. Kostyuk defeated Oksana Selekhmeteva 6-2, 6-3. She became emotional during her on-court interview and dedicated the result to Ukraine.

Match and personal circumstances Kostyuk, the No. 15 seed, called the victory one of the most difficult matches of her career. She said she had been crying for part of the morning and did not know how she would handle the match. "This morning, 100 meters away from my parents' house, a missile destroyed the building," Kostyuk said in her on-court interview.

She added that she woke up to see people continuing their daily lives and helping those in need, and that her heart was with the people of Ukraine.

Strike details and context BBC News reported that Russia launched a large-scale wave of overnight strikes, firing hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles. Four people were killed in Kyiv and at least 83 people were injured across the country. Kostyuk trains in Ukraine several times a year.

She has practiced with air raids overhead and explosions audible in the distance. Selekhmeteva was competing under the Spanish flag after switching nationality earlier in the week. Kostyuk did not shake hands with her opponent, consistent with Ukrainian players' policy regarding Russian and Belarusian opponents.

Next match and season form Kostyuk will face American Katie Volynets in the second round on Wednesday. Only one other player has recorded more clay-court wins than Kostyuk this season. She remains unbeaten on clay in 2026.