Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk achieved a historic milestone by defeating compatriot Elina Svitolina in the first all-Ukrainian Grand Slam quarterfinal of the Open Era. Kostyuk, aged 23 and seeded 15th in Paris, secured her spot in the semifinals at Roland Garros after a hard-fought victory over the seventh-seeded Svitolina. This win extended Kostyuk’s remarkable clay-court winning streak to 17 matches, following her earlier triumphs in Rouen and Madrid this season.
The significance of the match went beyond tennis, occurring shortly after a tragic Russian attack in Ukraine that claimed numerous lives. In an emotional post-match interview, Kostyuk dedicated her historic win to her country, acknowledging the challenging circumstances in Ukraine. This victory made Kostyuk the first Ukrainian woman in the Open Era to advance to the Roland Garros semifinals and only the third Ukrainian player to reach a Grand Slam semifinal, joining Svitolina and Dayana Yastremska.
Despite Svitolina’s status as the most accomplished Ukrainian player in WTA history, she faced disappointment with her sixth defeat in Paris quarterfinals, bringing her record to 0-6. While Svitolina had a strong track record against fellow Ukrainians on tour, Kostyuk’s performance proved too strong to overcome. The match itself was a rollercoaster, with Kostyuk taking the first set 6-3, Svitolina responding to claim the second set 6-2, and Kostyuk ultimately dominating the final set to secure a memorable victory.
Kostyuk’s win not only improved her head-to-head record against Svitolina to 2-1 but also highlighted Svitolina’s significant impact on Ukrainian tennis. Despite the intense competition, Kostyuk expressed gratitude towards Svitolina for her influence and fighting spirit. Following this triumph, Kostyuk will face Mirra Andreeva in the semifinals, setting the stage for an exciting matchup between two players seeking their first Grand Slam final appearance. Kostyuk has previously defeated Andreeva in Brisbane and Madrid this season.
