Key Highlights
- Marta Kostyuk dedicates her French Open 2026 win to Ukraine amid missile strikes.
- Russian and Ukrainian players avoid handshake after match.
- Kostyuk’s victory marks a significant moment in the ongoing conflict.
- Ukrainian support for athletes grows as they play on home soil.
The Match That Changed Everything
Marta Kostyuk, the 15th seed at the French Open 2026, just won a match that’s more than tennis. She beat Oksana Selekhmeteva in a game filled with tension and emotion.
A Missile Strikes Close to Home
On the morning of her match, Kostyuk received devastating news: A missile had struck 100 meters from where her parents live. She broke down on court after her win, dedicating it to Ukraine’s people and their resilience.
A Statement Match
The match itself was intense. Kostyuk admitted she didn’t know how the day would turn out for her or if she could handle such emotional weight. But she did, winning 6-2, 6-3 against Selekhmeteva, a Russian-born player playing under Spanish flags.
Hands Off
Kostyuk’s victory came with a symbolic gesture: no handshake with her opponent. Ukrainian players have a long-standing policy of not shaking hands with Russian or Belarusian players in the wake of the 2022 invasion.
The Battle Continues
For Kostyuk, it was one of the most difficult matches of her career. But she’s proud to be using her platform to support Ukraine. “I woke up and looked at all these people who kept living their lives,” she said. “My friends from Ukraine came out to support me today.”
Her win also means more than a simple victory in the tournament. It’s a statement against oppression and for the unity of Ukraine.
