Marta Kostyuk Shares Heartbreaking News Amid French Open Triumph

Marta Kostyuk, competing at the French Open, revealed her family home in Ukraine was struck by a missile. Despite the emotional turmoil, she secured a victory in her first-round match. Kostyuk shared her struggles with focus and the fear of losing her loved ones, reflecting on the ongoing conflict in her homeland. Her resilience shines through as she continues to compete, prioritizing her family's safety amidst the chaos. This poignant story highlights the intersection of sports and personal tragedy, drawing attention to the realities faced by those affected by war.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 24, 2026, 20:51 IST

Kostyuk's Emotional Victory at Roland Garros

Marta Kostyuk, currently competing at the French Open, disclosed that her family residence in Ukraine was struck by a missile. The World No. 15 fought back tears following her first-round victory at Roland Garros, revealing that a missile had 'destroyed' a building just 100 meters from her home in Kyiv. Despite the emotional burden, Kostyuk managed to defeat Oksana Selekhmeteva, a Russian-born player now representing Spain, with a score of 6-2, 6-3 on Sunday. However, she confessed that her thoughts were primarily with her mother and sister, overshadowing her focus on the match.

“I have this image of my parents' house and everything surrounding it. I don’t have a video, but this is what I received at eight in the morning today,” Kostyuk shared with reporters, displaying a photograph on her phone that showed smoke and flames engulfing the area.

The 23-year-old admitted to struggling with her mental state before stepping onto the court. “I had to live through it and deal with it and go out and play. I didn’t know what to expect from myself or how I would manage my emotions,” she explained.

During the match, Kostyuk found herself reflecting on the terrifying reality of the missile strike, contemplating how much closer it could have been. “There were moments when I thought about it, especially in the morning when I felt sick thinking that if it had been 100 meters closer, I might have lost my mum and sister today,” she said.

She also revealed that her great-aunt was present in the house with her mother and sister during the attack, but fortunately, none were injured. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia launched 90 missiles and 600 drones overnight, with air defense systems intercepting or shooting down 604 of them. Authorities confirmed that four individuals lost their lives in Kyiv and surrounding areas, with many others injured.

Despite the shock, Kostyuk chose to continue her participation in the French Open. “Not this morning, because thankfully everyone is healthy and alive,” she stated. “It’s tough, but none of my close friends or family members were harmed.”

After the attack, Kostyuk only managed to exchange text messages with her family, noting that many residents in Kyiv were still recovering from a night filled with relentless strikes.

“It’s obviously very frightening, but it’s not the first difficult night, nor will it be the last, so they are adapting,” she remarked.

Kostyuk also reflected on how this recent attack compared to the darkest times since the war began four years ago. “The onset of the full-scale war was probably the hardest due to the uncertainty,” she recalled. “We had 17 people in the house. The unknown during those first few months was incredibly challenging.”