Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk overcame emotional circumstances to register a comfortable first-round win over Oksana Selekhmeteva at the 2026 French Open. The 15th seed defeated Selekhmeteva 6-2, 6-3 at Roland Garros on Sunday to move into the second round.
The match came just hours after a missile strike reportedly landed close to her parents’ home in Kyiv during a major attack on the Ukrainian capital. Despite the disturbing news before the match, Kostyuk managed to stay focused and produced a dominant performance on the Paris clay courts.
Kostyuk stays composed amid a difficult situation
After the victory, Kostyuk admitted it had been one of the toughest days emotionally. The Ukrainian said she was proud of herself for handling the pressure and continuing to compete despite the worrying developments back home.
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Kostyuk has consistently spoken about the impact of the war in Ukraine and has often used her platform in tennis to raise awareness. She credited the strength of the Ukrainian people and the support from fans in Paris for helping her remain mentally strong during the contest.
Marta Kostyuk remains undefeated on clay in 2026 🫢
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) May 24, 2026
She won Rouen, Madrid, and just beat Selekhmeteva 6-2, 6-3 in her Roland Garros opener.
Bravo, Marta 🫶 #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/sN3pKlqx2b
The 23-year-old controlled the match from the start with aggressive baseline play and strong serving. Selekhmeteva struggled to find momentum as Kostyuk dictated most of the rallies throughout the one-sided encounter.
Winning streak continues on clay
The win also extended Kostyuk’s excellent run on clay this season. She has been one of the standout performers on the WTA Tour in recent months after winning titles in Rouen and Madrid before arriving at Roland Garros. Selekhmeteva, who recently switched nationality from Russia to Spain, could not match Kostyuk’s intensity and consistency during the match.
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With the victory, Kostyuk moved into the second round of the French Open, where she will face either Katie Volynets or Clara Burel. The Ukrainian will now look to continue her strong form and make a deep run in the tournament.
