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Original source: Andy Roddick's Served Media
This video from Andy Roddick's Served Media covered a lot of ground. Streamed.News selected 5 key moments and summarises them here. Everything below links directly to the timestamp in the original video.
For some athletes, the pressure of a match point is nothing compared to the reality they face off the court. This is a look at the unseen struggles of competing during wartime.
Marta Kostyuk Details Mental Toll of Competing While Family Lives in a War Zone
Marta Kostyuk provided a stark account of the immense challenges facing Ukrainian athletes, detailing how the war has shattered the routines essential for professional tennis. She described how travel to her home now takes over 24 hours and how she went nearly a year without seeing her father. While she trains in Monaco, her entire family remains in Ukraine, a reality that brings with it a constant and unsettling instability.
"Whenever I go, I go to sleep and I'm like, okay, I don't know if I will wake up tomorrow, but I need to sleep because I have to practice tomorrow. So, it's really weird feelings."
Ukrainian Tennis Players Find Success and 'Celebration' for Their Country Amidst War
The recent dominance of Ukrainian women on the tennis tour, with eight players ranked in the top 100, is a source of immense pride for Marta Kostyuk. She noted the incredible run where a Ukrainian player won a title nearly every week, including a recent victory by Dayana Yastremska in Parma. For Kostyuk, these wins are about more than just personal achievement; they are a chance to share a moment of celebration with the Ukrainian people back home.
"It's very important to just to show the world that the Ukrainian people are super resilient and strong and, you know, we can go through difficult days."
Kostyuk Pulls Out of Rome, Citing Hip Injury and a New Maturity in Prioritizing Health
Following her victory in Madrid, Marta Kostyuk made the difficult decision to withdraw from the tournament in Rome due to a hip injury that left her unable to walk the morning after the final. An MRI revealed that while the injury wasn't severe, pushing through another tournament would be a significant risk. The choice reflects a hard-won maturity for a player who admits she spent years pushing through pain.
"It took me also a lot of years to come to peace with this kind of decisions because I was always the type of player who would always push and play when not feeling good."
Kostyuk Finds New Confidence at Roland Garros, Focusing on Process Over Past Results
Despite a self-described poor record in Paris, Marta Kostyuk arrived at Roland Garros with a different feeling this year, drawing confidence from her recent success in Madrid. A practice session on Court Philippe-Chatrier immediately felt good, reminding her of the big-stadium atmosphere where she thrives. She attributes her newfound consistency to a significant mental shift away from focusing on results.
"The reason why I think I am playing like I'm playing right now and I'm being consistent is because I'm not trying to focus on on the result on winning. I really just try to enjoy the good days, the bad days."
Marta Kostyuk Credits Coach Sandra Zaniewska for Creating a Space 'To Be Myself'
Marta Kostyuk detailed the unique dynamic with her coach, Sandra Zaniewska, explaining that their connection allows her to be her authentic self—emotional, explosive, and honest. She noted that previous coaches struggled to handle her personality, but with Zaniewska, there is a foundation of mutual respect and emotional maturity that allows them to navigate difficult situations without crossing established lines.
"She brings something that I am able to be myself and I'm not afraid to be myself."
Also mentioned in this video
- Andy Roddick welcomes Marta Kostyuk, congratulates her on her career-high… (0:08)
- Marta Kostyuk shares that she has no memory of life without tennis, as her… (7:32)
- Marta Kostyuk reflects on her extensive experience on tour at 23, having… (8:31)
Summarised from Andy Roddick's Served Media · 16:34. All credit belongs to the original creators. Streamed.News summarises publicly available video content.
