Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk has endured one of her toughest matches, prevailing in the first round of the French Open after learning a missile almost hit her parents’ home hours earlier.

Kostyuk fought back tears after beating Russian-born Spaniard Oksana Selekhmeteva 6-2, 6-3 on Court Simonne-Mathieu on the opening day of the clay court grand slam at Roland-Garros in Paris.

“I think it was one of the most difficult matches of my career,” the 15th-seed said. 

“This morning, 100 metres 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.”

Kostyuk received a message at 8am.

“I felt sick,” she said. 

“If it was 100m closer, I probably wouldn’t have a mum and a sister today.”

Her mother, sister and great-aunt were in the house at the time of the strike, she said, among 17 people in total, so her relief was enormous that no-one was injured.

“I don’t want to think what I would do if something worse happened, but I knew that this is the day to go out and play,” she said. 

“It didn’t cross my mind today that I shouldn’t go out because, you know, at the end of the day, everyone is alive.”

After the match, she thanked fans and received an ovation. Then she explained how she found the emotional and mental resources to play.

“I think it’s important to keep going. My biggest example is Ukrainian people, I woke up in the morning today and …” the 23-year-old said, becoming tearful before repeating and finishing the sentence.

“I looked at all these people who woke up and kept living their life, kept helping people who are in need. 

“I knew a lot of Ukrainian flags would be here today and a lot of Ukrainian people would come out, support. My friends from Ukraine came as well.”

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.

The heat is on

High temperatures of 33 degrees Celsius contributed to Frenchman Arthur Gea taking an emergency bathroom break early into his first-round loss to number 13 Karen Khachanov on Court Suzanne-Lenglen.

Spectators folded newspapers in half and fanned themselves to keep cool as players attempted to stay hydrated.

Canadian Gabriel Diallo said the heat was the main reason he retired against Australian James Duckworth after losing the first set 6-3 and trailing 4-1 in the second.

“That’s mainly what it was,” he said. “It was getting worse and worse.”

Number 21 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina also struggled.

“I am coming from Hamburg with 10C it’s 22C more,” the Spaniard said after beating Damir Dzumhur 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 2-6, 7-5, 6-3. 

“I didn’t expect that.”

The opening match on Chatrier saw number 11-ranked Belinda Bencic beating Sinja Kraus 6-2, 6-3 and 2024 runner-up Alexander Zverev, seeded number two, winning 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 against Benjamin Bonzi.

Other results

Former US Open champion Emma Raducanu and former French Open runners-up Sloane Stephens and Sofia Kenin all went out.

Number 26 Hailey Baptiste won 6-7 (7), 7-6 (6), 6-2 against 2021 champion Barbora Krejčíková. Baptiste is playing in the women’s doubles alongside American countrywoman Venus Williams. Number 21 Clara Tauson lost, while number 27 Marie Bouzkova and number 32 Wang Xinyu reached the second round.

In men’s first-round play, number 23 Tomas Etcheverry lost against Nuno Borges, but number 26 Jakub Mensik and number 28 João Fonseca advanced.

AP