Kichenok Postpones Wedding After U.S. Open Win

Lyudmyla Kichenok, who recently won the U.S. Open women's doubles title with partner Jelena Ostapenko, had to postpone her wedding to coach Stas Khmarsky due to her unexpected success in the tournament. The wedding was originally scheduled for the same day as Kichenok's semifinal match, which took precedence over the ceremony. Kichenok humorously noted during the trophy presentation that the wedding could wait, stating, 'That was a little more important.' The duo triumphed in the final against Kristina Mladenovic and Zhang Shuai, winning 6-4, 6-3, and did not drop a set throughout the tournament. Kichenok dedicated her victory to Ukraine, hoping to inspire her compatriots amid ongoing struggles. Ostapenko, who has Khmarsky as part of her coaching team, echoed Kichenok's sentiments, viewing the title win as a fitting reason for the wedding delay.