Marta Kostyuk shook the Court Philippe-Chatrier by defeating Iga Swiatek, the four-time Roland Garros champion and world number three, in one of the biggest upsets of the 2026 French Open. The young Ukrainian, ranked 15th in the world, triumphed 7-5, 6-1 in the fourth round, showcasing pure determination and resilience that promises to shake up women’s tennis.
In a breathtaking first set, Kostyuk came back from behind twice, including when Swiatek was serving to close the set at 5-4. The pressure on the Polish player proved fatal, and the 23-year-old Ukrainian came out strong in the second set. Even after losing her serve right at the start, she responded with three consecutive breaks, closing out the match with authority and making it clear that she is unstoppable this season.
This victory marks Kostyuk’s second appearance in the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam, repeating the feat she achieved at the 2024 Australian Open, and extends her impressive unbeaten streak on clay to 16 matches in 2026. This moment is historic, especially since she had never even managed to win a set against the formidable Swiatek prior to this matchup.
In emotional statements after the match, Marta confessed to still being in shock: “Yes, I am still processing. To beat such an incredible player, who has already won here four times, and against whom I had lost four times before, without ever winning a set, is unbelievable. I still can’t believe it. Thank you all for the energy today.”
Questioned about the secret to her form on clay, Kostyuk revealed a revolutionary mental approach: “I don’t really know. I feel like I’ve given myself more space to create, to challenge my opponents. The most important thing has been to really try to enjoy. I woke up today thinking about the incredible day I had ahead of me, playing here on Chatrier, against Iga. There was nothing else to do but that.”
The young Ukrainian left a powerful message about her motivation: “I want to maintain this state of mind because it’s helping me a lot. I try not to focus on winning or losing because I don’t play tennis to win. I play because I love what I do and I want to connect with people. I want to feel the energy that comes to the court, make people happy, and bring them together.”
With this memorable performance, Marta Kostyuk not only takes down a giant of tennis but also sends a clear warning: she is ready to challenge the best and leave her mark on the history of world tennis. The French Open has just gained an even brighter star.
This article first appeared on [Apito Final](https://apitofinal.pt/).
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