Ukrainian star Marta Kostyuk held back tears as she revealed a Russian missile narrowly missed her parents’ house just hours before her opening match at the French Open.
Russia launched a new wave of attacks on Ukraine capital Kyiv overnight, leaving four dead and nearly 100 people injured.
Kostyuk refused to shake hands with her Russian opponent Oksana Selekhmeteva, who recently switched allegiance to Spain, after her 6-2, 6-3 victory on Court Simone Mathieu.
‘I’m incredibly proud of myself,’ said an emotional Kostyuk. ‘I think it was one of the most difficult matches of my career. This morning, 100 meters from my parent’s house, the missile destroyed the building. It was a very difficult morning.
‘I didn’t know how this match was going to turn out for me. I didn’t know how I would handle it. I’ve been crying part of the morning. I don’t want to talk about myself today.
Marta Kostyuk shows journalists a photo of the missile attacks on her parents’ home
Kostyuk refused to shake hands with her Russian opponent Oksana Selekhmeteva after her 6-2, 6-3 victory in Paris
‘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. Thank you so much for coming out. Slava Ukraine.’
Kostyuk, the world number 15 and recent Madrid Open champion, has long refused to shake hands with Russian and Belarusian players ever since the war began.
She was booed off court at Roland Garros three years ago after ignoring Aryna Sabalenka after a first-round defeat to the current world number one.
Kostyuk went straight to shake hands with the umpire after beating Selekhmeteva then sat on her bench burying her face in a towel before she addressed the crowd.
‘I think it’s important to keep going,’ she said. ‘My biggest example is Ukrainian people. I woke up and looked at all these people who woke up and kept living their lives, 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 and support. My friends from Ukraine came as well. I am very happy to have them here. There is not much I can say.’
