Marta Kostyuk stunned four-time champion Iga Swiatek with a 7-5 6-1 victory at the French Open, ensuring new champions will be crowned in both the women's and men's singles. The Ukrainian's win continued a tournament of shocks following defending champion Coco Gauff's defeat on Saturday.
Kostyuk's Unbeaten Run Continues
Swiatek, the only remaining former champion in either draw, endured an error-strewn display against the in-form Kostyuk. The Ukrainian has yet to lose a match on clay this season after winning the biggest title of her career in Madrid earlier this month, extending her unbeaten run to 16 matches.
This is just the second time the 23-year-old, who sits at a career-high ranking of 15, has reached the quarter-finals of a grand slam after the Australian Open in 2024.
"To beat such an unbelievable player who won four times here, I'd lost (three) times to her, never taken a set off her, I still cannot believe it," said Kostyuk. "I think the most important thing I've been doing is really just trying to enjoy. I woke up this morning and I just thought about what an unbelievable day I have to live today to play on Chatrier against Iga."
Swiatek's Struggles Continue
Swiatek changed coaches earlier in the spring in an effort to arrest her slide, bringing in Rafael Nadal and Emma Raducanu's former coach Francisco Roig, but her troubles remain. This is her earliest defeat on the Parisian clay since her debut in 2019.
She had won her first three matches comfortably and served for the first set but could not clinch it. Two double faults in the 12th game helped Kostyuk move into the lead. Swiatek went for a lengthy bathroom break and broke serve immediately to start the second set only to again double fault twice and hand the initiative back.
Her forehand, so often a barometer of her game and confidence, became increasingly wayward, and a final backhand that flew wide was her 38th unforced error of the match.
Emotional Victory for Ukraine
Kostyuk began the tournament in tears on court, revealing that her family home in Kyiv had narrowly avoided being hit by a Russian missile. Her victory continued an excellent tournament for Ukraine's women.
