Marta Kostyuk is making history in the world of tennis by reaching the semifinals of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career, following a victory in a completely Ukrainian duel against Elina Svitolina, a win that propels her towards the top ten of the WTA ranking.
At 23 years old, Kostyuk is the standout sensation of the clay season, remaining unbeaten on this surface throughout the year, with notable victories at the Rouen Open and the Madrid Open. Her streak of 17 consecutive wins continued at the iconic Roland Garros, where she is now fighting for a place in the final.
In an intense and unpredictable clash, the 15th seed took the first set with two breaks, but Svitolina responded in the second, forcing a decisive set after a hard-fought battle in which both players struggled to hold serve. The third set began with five consecutive breaks, until Kostyuk finally stabilized her game and secured the final victory with a score of 6-3, 2-6, and 6-2, in a match that lasted one hour and 49 minutes.
In the next challenge, Marta will face the 8th-ranked player, Mirra Andreeva, the same opponent she defeated in the final of the Madrid Open in April, in a match that will determine who advances to the final of Roland Garros. Kostyuk, whose previous best performance in Paris was reaching the fourth round in 2021, did not hide her respect for her rival, praising Svitolina as “an incredible fighter” and highlighting the impact that the former world number 3 has had on Ukrainian tennis and on herself.
Despite being just two matches away from maintaining her unbeaten record on clay in 2026, Kostyuk remains grounded and fully focused: “I still think it’s a long way off. I have to play against Mirra in the semifinals. I’m very excited for Thursday and I hope you all come to support me,” declared the young tennis player.
Regarding the WTA ranking, her campaign in Paris represents a significant boost. After having only 10 points to defend due to an early exit in 2025, Kostyuk started the tournament in 15th place with 2,387 points. Her advancement to the semifinals has already secured her 770 points, allowing her to rise three places to 12th. A victory against Andreeva could elevate her into the top 10 with 3,677 points, and if she wins the title, she could ascend to 8th place, pushing Svitolina down.
This is undoubtedly a defining moment for Marta Kostyuk, who is beginning to write a new chapter in the history of Ukrainian and world tennis, with an unstoppable trajectory that promises to revolutionize the next generation of the sport on clay.
Discover more from Apito Final
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
