Marta Kostyuk wins Roland Garros opener hours after learning missile struck 100 meters from parents' Kyiv home

Marta Kostyuk remained undefeated on clay this season by opening her Roland Garros campaign Sunday with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Oksana Selekhmeteva.

The No. 15 seed has now won 13 consecutive matches on the surface following title runs in Rouen and Madrid—the latter marking her biggest career triumph–plus a match win in Billie Jean King Cup. Despite the seemingly routine result, Kostyuk’s morning was anything but straightforward as the Ukrainian would reveal in her on-court interview.

“I’m incredibly proud of myself today. I think it was one of the most difficult matches of my career,” she began. “This morning, 100 meters from my parents’ house, the missile destroyed the building. It was a very difficult morning. I didn’t know how this match is gonna turn out for me. I didn’t know how I would handle it. I’ve been crying part of the morning.

“I don’t wanna talk about myself today. I’m very pleased to be in the second round, but all of my thoughts and all my heart goes to the people of Ukraine today.”

Kostyuk later revealed to media that she had received a picture of the scene surrounding her family home three hours before she took the court. She felt a sense of relief being first on, as it gave her less time to go through the motions of what had just happened.

“It was really difficult to just process it so quick and also go out and play,” Kostyuk said.

“There were obviously times in the match when I would go in back to thinking about it, because most of the morning I felt sick just for my thought that see if it was 100 meters closer, I probably wouldn't have a mom and a sister today. That's why I'm also very happy that I played first match, because I don't know what would be the outcome if I played last, for example.”

I don’t wanna talk about myself today. I’m very pleased to be in the second round, but all of my thoughts and all my heart goes to the people of Ukraine today. Marta Kostyuk

The 23-year-old noted she hadn’t connected with her family on the phone at the time of her press conference, but exchanged texts with loved ones and friends based in Kyiv. Withdrawing ahead of her match was not a scenario she considered.

“I knew that this is the day to go out and play, and it didn't cross my mind today that I shouldn't go out, because, at the end of the day, everyone is alive. Everything is good.”

Kostyuk meets American Katie Volynets in the second round, as she bids to reach the second week of the French Open for the first time in five years.