UKRAINE PERSPECTIVE

Kyiv turns Marta Kostyuk into a flag-bearer. Kyiv Post publishes the only political portrait of the tournament: 'Kostyuk Reaches Historic French Open Semifinal, Dedicates Win to Ukraine'. Marta Kostyuk says 'learning to block out the realities of Russia's invasion of Ukraine has become essential' during her run to the semifinals, even as the conflict remains never far from her thoughts. She beat compatriot Elina Svitolina 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 on Tuesday to reach the last four of a Grand Slam for the first time — it was also the first all-Ukrainian quarterfinal at a major in the professional era. The 23-year-old held back tears on court as she dedicated the win to Ukraine, hit early Tuesday by hundreds of Russian drones and dozens of missiles, killing at least 21 people. 'With everything that's happening, for me being here is a real blessing, and I don't think about winning. It's not the most important thing for me', she told reporters. 'I'm here to represent Ukraine and to enjoy.' Kostyuk has been a vocal supporter of Ukraine during the war. She revealed after her opening-round win that her family home narrowly avoided being struck by a missile. 'There is nothing I can do about it, but just follow what's going on.' She explains she turns off news notifications on her phone during the night to focus as best as she can on tennis. 'I will change absolutely nothing, and I will just not get any sleep. If I cannot live without news and not follow them, then I might as well go back to Ukraine and live there.' The Ukrainian angle fuses sport and resistance — Kostyuk is treated not as a player but as an ambassador of a country under bombardment.