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 in western Paris.
“I think it was one of the most difficult matches of my career,” the 15th-seeded Kostyuk said.
After the match, she thanked fans and received an ovation. “I think it’s important to keep going,” the 23-year-old Kostyuk said.
She next plays unseeded American Katie Volynets and Kostyuk’s countrywoman Elina Svitolina — a recent winner at the Italian Open in Rome — faces Anna Bondar on Monday.
