Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Kostyuk’s Tears and Struff’s Upset Define Early Days of the French Open

Her account of a rocket strike near her parents’ Kyiv home underlines how the Ukraine war has followed players onto Roland Garros.

Overview

  • Marta Kostyuk won her first-round match and said on Sunday that a Russian rocket struck about 100 metres from her parents’ home in Kyiv, an account that left her emotional and led her to decline the customary post-match handshake.
  • Jan‑Lennard Struff produced a major surprise by beating world No. 10 Alexander Bublik to reach the second round, a Tuesday result that reshapes the men’s draw for upcoming rounds.
  • Players have had to manage extreme heat—reports put court temperatures near 35°C—which players such as Eva Lys said made recovery, hydration and routine change central to match preparation.
  • Veteran departures and withdrawals are altering expectations at Roland Garros: Laura Siegemund lost her opening match to Naomi Osaka and Stan Wawrinka exited in his farewell season while Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn with a wrist injury, opening the field for other contenders.
  • The tournament continues to be shaped by politics and procedure as Ukrainian players keep refusing handshakes with Russian-born opponents, tennis authorities maintain nationality restrictions, and organisers face pressure from heat, injuries and scheduling that could affect player welfare and the wider draw.