PARIS — Marta Kostyuk’s first-round win at the French Open became one of her toughest matches after she found out beforehand that a missile almost hit her parents’ home in Ukraine.
Kostyuk fought back tears after beating Oksana Selekhmeteva, 6-2, 6-3, on Court Simonne-Mathieu on the opening day of the clay-court Grand Slam at Roland Garros.
“I think it was one of the most difficult matches of my career,” the 15th-seeded Kostyuk said. “This morning, 100 meters away from my parents’ house, the missile destroyed the building and it was a very difficult morning for me … I didn’t know how I would handle it, I’ve been crying part of the morning.”
She received a message at 8 a.m. and could not stop thinking what could have happened.
“I felt sick,” she said. “If it was 100 meters closer, I probably wouldn’t have a mom and a sister today.”