PARIS — This year’s French Open will witness a new face emerging as the women’s champion, with two remarkable Ukrainian players standing out among the top contenders.
With an unblemished record on clay this season, 15th-seeded Marta Kostyuk has made a stunning entry into the quarterfinals in Paris, marking her debut at this stage by defeating four-time champion Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-1 and spoiling her birthday celebration.
Kostyuk will square off against her fellow countrywoman Elina Svitolina next, guaranteeing that an Ukrainian woman will reach the semifinals at Roland Garros for the first time since the professional era began in 1968. The seventh-seeded Svitolina overcame Belinda Bencic with a score of 4-6, 6-4, 6-0.
“It’s incredible to have Ukraine represented in the semifinals,” said Svitolina, reflecting on her country’s ongoing four-year conflict with Russia.
“This is a significant achievement for Ukrainian tennis. In such challenging times due to the invasion, it’s truly inspiring for the next generation to see that it’s possible to compete and win on this prestigious court.”
Notably, none of the remaining players have claimed a trophy in Paris before, following the recent exits of Coco Gauff and Swiatek. The men’s draw is equally vast, with the losses of Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic, alongside the injury absence of Carlos Alcaraz.
In the men’s bracket, Spanish prodigy Rafael Jodar achieved his first Grand Slam quarterfinal after a stunning comeback from two sets down to outlast Pablo Carreno Busta with a scoreline of 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2. Jodar, who previously played a five-set match in the prior round, will face either Alexander Zverev or Jesper de Jong next.
Kostyuk had previously lost all three encounters against Swiatek, never winning a set against the former world No. 1, who turned 25 on Sunday.
“I’m still in disbelief. To defeat such an extraordinary player, who has triumphed here four times, is unreal,” she said.
Kostyuk is having a standout clay-court season, displaying exceptional defensive skills by chasing Swiatek’s shots around the court and executing some breathtaking groundstroke winners while capitalizing on her opponent’s errors.
The match started with intense baseline exchanges. Swiatek appeared anxious, committing multiple double faults and errors, which allowed Kostyuk to level the score at 5-5. The Ukrainian sealed the first set with a brilliant backhand passing shot after Swiatek’s mistakes cost her dearly.
Swiatek briefly left the court, while Kostyuk kept her energy up with warm-up stretches and even showcased some spontaneous dance moves to the stadium’s music.
After enduring a stifling heatwave during the first week, Paris finally enjoyed a respite on Sunday, with temperatures dipping to 21 degrees Celsius (70 Fahrenheit). Upon the resumption of play, Swiatek initially broke serve, but a series of double faults and unforced errors allowed Kostyuk to come back strong, winning the last five games.
With this victory, Kostyuk extended her winning streak on clay to 16 matches, having previously claimed the title in Madrid, which remains the biggest highlight of her career, along with another clay-court title in Rouen, France.
“The most vital thing I’ve focused on is enjoying the game,” she shared. “It’s been beneficial. I want to continue enjoying it and avoid stressing over winning or losing; I’m here because I love tennis.”
Veteran Romanian Sorana Cirstea, who will retire at the end of the season, triumphed over Chinese qualifier Wang Xiyu with a score of 6-3, 7-6 (4), reaching her second Roland Garros quarterfinal—17 years after her first.
The time gap between Cirstea’s first and second Grand Slam quarterfinals is the longest by any woman in the Open Era.
“There’s no expiration date on ambition and dreams,” Cirstea remarked. “Back then, I was just a kid starting out on the tour. Now, with many years of experience and maturity, I feel like a completely different player.”
