Kostyuk Triumphs Amid Turmoil of Ukraine’s War Experience

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Marta Kostyuk, the highest-ranked female tennis player from Ukraine, defeated American Robin Montgomery 6-1, 6-3 in her opening match at the BNP Paribas Open on Friday. The match drew a passionate crowd at Stadium 4, where the atmosphere felt reminiscent of Kyiv rather than California, illustrating the strong bond of support for Kostyuk, ranked No. 24 in the world.

This victory came during a challenging week for Kostyuk, as ongoing military conflict in Ukraine has intensified following Vladimir Putin’s invasion in early 2022. Despite the emotional toll, Kostyuk expressed gratitude for the support she received from friends back in the United States. “A lot of messages and a lot of apologies, which is amazing,” she said in a post-match conference. “It’s incredible to see this, that people still support us.”

Kostyuk is not the only Ukrainian tennis player grappling with the emotions surrounding the war. Fellow Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska, who recently beat three-time Grand Slam finalist Ons Jabeur, shared her daily routine of checking updates on missile alerts affecting her hometown of Odesa, where family still resides. “After what happened on this day, the attack on Ukraine got higher than it was before,” said Yastremska, who expressed how hard it is to keep up with the dire situation back home.

The recent tension escalated when former President Donald Trump criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a White House meeting. The encounter was televised and resulted in a notable pause in U.S. military aid to Ukraine, creating further distress among Ukrainian athletes. “Crazy, crazy day. I thought I would explode,” Yastremska reflected on her own tumultuous arrival in the U.S., where she faced immigration issues upon landing.

Kostyuk spoke on managing personal and national struggles, emphasizing the importance of separating these issues when competing. “Everyone is going through something in their lives,” she noted. “It’s very important to kind of put everything that’s outside the court aside and just go out there and do the job that you are doing.”

As she gets ready for her next match against American Caroline Dolehide, Kostyuk remains a symbol of resilience for her country. She holds on to the words, “Everything will be fine, and if it’s not fine, it means it’s not the end.” The Ukrainian contingent at the BNP Paribas Open reflects both the talent and the heart of a nation enduring hardship yet striving for excellence on the global stage.