Marta Kostyuk delivered one of the biggest wins of her career as she defeated fellow Ukrainian Elina Svitolina 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 to secure a place in the French Open 2026 semifinals. The victory marked a historic milestone for Kostyuk, who became the first Ukrainian woman in the Open Era to reach the last four at Roland Garros.
The quarterfinal was a landmark occasion for Ukrainian tennis, featuring the first all-Ukrainian matchup at this stage of a Grand Slam. Both players entered the contest in strong form, but it was Kostyuk who handled the pressure better and produced the more consistent tennis over three sets.
Kostyuk takes early control
Kostyuk started the match confidently, using her powerful groundstrokes to dictate play from the baseline. She quickly gained the upper hand and broke Svitolina’s serve to move ahead in the opening set.
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Despite some resistance from the experienced Svitolina, Kostyuk remained composed and continued to attack whenever opportunities appeared. Her aggressive approach paid off as she wrapped up the first set 6-3 and moved one step closer to a career-defining result.
Marta Kostyuk gave an emotional speech after beating Elina Svitolina to reach Roland Garros SF
“First I want to start with this historical match we played today with Elina. We had a very difficult night again in Ukraine, especially in Kyiv. So many people dead. I want to give… pic.twitter.com/2xsLs79jaJ
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) June 2, 2026
Svitolina responded strongly in the second set. The former world No. 3 raised her intensity, improved her returning and forced Kostyuk into a series of mistakes. With momentum firmly on her side, Svitolina claimed the set 6-2 to level the match.
Historic breakthrough for Kostyuk
The deciding set saw both players battle hard for control, but Kostyuk elevated her game when it mattered most. She struck the ball with confidence, covered the court brilliantly and took advantage of key opportunities on return.
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As the pressure increased, Kostyuk stayed calm and maintained her attacking mindset. She eventually pulled away in the closing stages to seal the third set 6-2 and complete a memorable victory.
The win sends Kostyuk into her maiden French Open semifinal and keeps alive her dream of winning a first Grand Slam title. It is another major step forward for the 23-year-old, who continues to enjoy the best clay-court season of her career.
