Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk celebrated the biggest title of her career with a backwards handspring after defeating Mirra Andreeva 6-3 7-5 to win the Madrid Open, her maiden WTA 1000 title.
The 23-year-old won her third career title and second in a month, following a WTA 250 victory in Rouen. Kostyuk will rise to a career-high No 15 in the world rankings on Monday after her impressive run in the Spanish capital.
After her backwards flip, Kostyuk posed for photographs at the Caja Mágica with her two dogs and a pair of 'lucky shorts'. She explained that the underwear was accidentally acquired from the tournament laundry service last year and kept as a charm by her coach, Sandra Zaniewska, who drove to her father's house to retrieve it before the tournament.
“This trophy tastes like champagne, no doubt about it,” Kostyuk said. “Watching this tournament as a child and remembering all the people who've won it before me, I never thought this was possible, it's amazing.”
Andreeva, who cut a frustrated figure, said: “Every time I lose, it’s like the end of the world to me. I don’t understand how other players smile after losing. Every match that I lose is very disappointing and painful.”
Kostyuk took the first set with a single break of serve. The second set was closer, with both players breaking twice before Kostyuk edged ahead 6-5 and closed out victory on her third match point.
