Marta Kostyuk Ends Iga Świątek’s French Open Run

PARIS — Iga Świątek faced an early exit at the French Open, her earliest since 2019, as Marta Kostyuk outplayed her. Świątek, a four-time champion at the event, struggled notably with her serve and shot selection.

Before this match, Świątek had a perfect 3-0 career record against Kostyuk. However, in Sunday’s match, she failed to maintain a break advantage during the opening set. This eroded her baseline game, leading to a downward spiral in the second set.

Kostyuk secured a 7-5, 6-1 victory, marking her 16th consecutive clay win in 2026. Her triumph reflects a series of surprising results in this year’s French Open, especially within the women’s draw over recent days.

Kostyuk’s previous encounters with Świątek were notably one-sided, with Kostyuk never claiming a set from the six-time Grand Slam winner. At 23, she has reinvigorated her career this clay-court season, capturing the biggest title of her career at the Madrid Open earlier this month, following a victory at the Rouen Open.

In a post-match interview, Kostyuk expressed satisfaction with her performance, highlighting the freedom she felt to challenge her opponents effectively. She acknowledged the significance of moments like playing on court Chatrier and emphasized her enjoyment of the game.

This match carried additional weight for Kostyuk, given personal circumstances. Before her first-round win at Roland Garros, her parents’ home in Kyiv was near a missile strike, resulting from ongoing conflict. Despite feeling distressed and uncertain about her performance, she overcame these challenges to succeed on the court.

Kostyuk’s advance past Świątek marks her second career Grand Slam quarterfinal, her first at the French Open. She achieved this by displaying superior power during the first set, coupled with consistent defense, and capitalizing on Świątek’s unsteady performance.

Świątek, in contrast, struggled with poor shot choices and a misfiring crosscourt forehand. Her difficulties were compounded when Kostyuk responded with precise groundstrokes and decisive passing shots, excelling in net exchanges and crucial serve games.

Świątek had acknowledged her issues with maintaining composure in extended rallies during clay-court competitions. Despite previous progress, Kostyuk exposed the areas where Świątek needs further improvement.

Overwhelmed by the win, Kostyuk thanked the supportive crowd following the match. While Świątek briefly left the court for a reset after the first set, Kostyuk remained composed, staying focused and lively with the crowd between sets.

Despite Świątek clinching the first game of the second set, Kostyuk swiftly secured the next six games, establishing her dominance over the match.