Marta Kostyuk arrived at Roland Garros with the sort of form that should have made her opening match feel like a continuation of something thrilling. She was unbeaten on clay in 2026, already a champion in Rouen and Madrid, and back on court with the authority of a player who had taken the spring by the throat.
Then tennis became the smaller part of the day.
Before Kostyuk defeated Oksana Selekhmeteva 6-2, 6-3 in the first round of the French Open, she had woken to news from Ukraine that left her shaken. A missile had destroyed a building just 100 metres from her parents’ house. By the time she stepped onto court in Paris, she was not only carrying the pressure of a Grand Slam return. She was carrying fear, grief and the awful distance of being away from home when home is under attack.
Kostyuk Holds Her Nerve After a Difficult Morning
Kostyuk’s performance was impressive in ordinary tennis terms. In the circumstances, it became something far more striking.
The 15th seed began sharply, moving into a 3-0 lead and setting the tone early against Selekhmeteva. Her opponent managed to get on the board after narrowly avoiding another break point, but Kostyuk kept control of the match. She broke again and, although Selekhmeteva briefly extended the set by holding serve, Kostyuk closed it out with enough authority to keep the match firmly in her hands.
The second set briefly offered Selekhmeteva a foothold when she held to love at the start, but Kostyuk responded by winning five games in a row. She eventually served it out on her third match point, sealing a 6-2, 6-3 win that carried her into the second round.
Kostyuk vs Selekhmeteva – Full Match Stats
| Statistic | Kostyuk | Selekhmeteva |
|---|---|---|
| Dominance Ratio | 1.46 | 0.69 |
| Winners | 20 | 4 |
| Unforced Errors | 33 | 31 |
| Serve Rating | 223 | 142 |
| Aces | 1 | 0 |
| Double Faults | 5 | 12 |
| 1st Serve % | 49% (27/55) | 58% (35/60) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 59% (16/27) | 49% (17/35) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 61% (17/28) | 32% (8/25) |
| Break Points Saved | 57% (4/7) | 54% (7/13) |
| Service Games | 67% (6/9) | 25% (2/8) |
| Ace % | 1.8% | 0% |
| Double Fault % | 9.1% | 20% |
| Return Rating | 240 | 156 |
| 1st Return Points Won | 51% (18/35) | 41% (11/27) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 68% (17/25) | 39% (11/28) |
| Break Points Won | 46% (6/13) | 43% (3/7) |
| Return Games | 75% (6/8) | 33% (3/9) |
| Pressure Points | 50% (10/20) | 50% (10/20) |
| Service Points | 60% (33/55) | 42% (25/60) |
| Return Points | 58% (35/60) | 40% (22/55) |
| Net Points | 75% (6/8) | 50% (2/4) |
| Total Points | 59% (68/115) | 41% (47/115) |
| Match Duration | 1h19m | |
On another day, the story would have been simple enough: Madrid champion returns, clay streak continues, Roland Garros campaign begins with control.
This was not another day.
“One of the Most Difficult Matches of My Career”
After the match, Kostyuk could not hide what the morning had taken out of her.
“I’m incredibly proud of myself today,” she said. “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.”
That sentence gave the result its real context. Kostyuk had not merely navigated a first-round match. She had tried to compete while her mind was still with her family, her country and the people living through another day of war.
She admitted she had not known how she would cope once the match began.
“I didn’t know how this match is gonna turn out for me,” Kostyuk said. “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 2nd 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.”
It was a raw moment, and a reminder that for Ukrainian players, the tour does not offer a clean escape from the war.
Kostyuk Draws Strength From Ukraine
Kostyuk said she still chose to play because continuing matters. In that, she looked to the people of Ukraine as her example.
“Because I think it’s important to keep going,” she said. “My biggest example is Ukrainian people. I woke up in the morning today and I looked at all these people who woke up and kept living their live, kept helping people who are in need.”
She also knew she would not be alone in Paris. Ukrainian flags were visible around the court, and friends from Ukraine had come to support her.
“I knew a lot of Ukrainian flags would be here today and a lot of Ukrainian people would come out and support,” Kostyuk said. “My friends from Ukraine came as well. Very happy to have them here. Not much I can say.”
That final line probably said enough. Some days do not need polishing. Some victories arrive with too much attached to them to be treated as ordinary sport.
Unbeaten on Clay, but Carrying More Than Momentum
Kostyuk’s clay season remains extraordinary. She is still unbeaten on the surface in 2026 after winning titles in Rouen and Madrid, and her form makes her one of the most dangerous players in this section of the Roland Garros draw.
Kostyuk will face either Katie Volynets or French wildcard Clara Burel in the second round. From a tennis perspective, she remains a serious threat.
From a human perspective, this opening win already belongs to a different category.
She did not just survive a first-round match in Paris. She carried Ukraine with her, cried through part of the morning, stepped onto the clay and kept going.