Tennis star Marta Kostyuk asks 'What am I living for?' as Ukrainians grapple with the toll of Russia's invasion

By Amy Woodyatt, CNN

Updated 0018 GMT (0818 HKT) April 30, 2022

(CNN)Right now Ukrainian tennis star Marta Kostyuk is finding it tough focusing on the sport she has dedicated her life to.

At times there's simply too much emotional turmoil and pain to comprehend as the 19-year Kostyuk, who was born in Kyiv, reflects on the impact of Russia's invasion on her country and her fellow Ukrainian players.«Right now is something indescribable, I would say, because there is a parent of one tennis player that died,» Kostyuk told CNN Sport. «There is one tennis player's house that is completely destroyed,» she said.Kostyuk's own mental health has been affected as well.«It was extremely difficult, the first week or two,» she told CNN in a telephone interview earlier this month.Read More«It's been two months and you know, it's up and down, it changes. I'm trying to guide myself a little bit, just trying to see where I'm at. Trying to feel myself and trying to figure myself out,» she added.Kostyuk is extremely conscious of the importance of trying to manage her feelings and says she's been working with a psychologist.«I started a couple of weeks ago, which helps me enormously. But you know, sometimes it goes to a certain extent that it's scary, the thoughts that come to you,» added Kostyuk.«I don't want to say the words because you know, you can figure out what I'm trying to speak about.»Because at that point, there's so many things going on, you need to carry so much all at once that you are just like, I can't handle this anymore.«I'm just like, what's the point where it's all going? It's never ending like what should I do with my life now? What am I living for?» she said.Marta Kostyuk is ranked No. 74 in the world in singles and No.