PARIS — Marta Kostyuk will make history on Thursday by becoming the first Ukrainian woman to reach the semifinals of the French Open. A teenage prodigy who reached the third round of the Australian Open at just 15 years old, she struggled with pressure for years. But after winning titles in Rouen and Madrid this year, she will face Russia’s Mila Andreeva for her 17th straight victory on clay. Here’s how she became a contender for sports’ biggest prize.
free yourself from expectations
Kostyuk showed incredible talent as a junior. She became the second-youngest player in history to win the Junior Australian Open title at the age of 14, qualifying for the main event in Melbourne the following year and reaching the third round, catapulting her onto the world stage.
At the age of 15, the expectations were immense and, understandably, it was difficult to cope with them. It took almost three years before she won her next Grand Slam match. And she struggled at major tournaments in general, not making it past the fourth round until the 2024 Australian Open, where she reached the final, but this year’s Roland Garros was her only quarterfinal appearance.
In 2026, she said she gave herself some breathing space. “I enjoy it more because I just learn how to make points, deal with challenges and survive difficult situations in the match,” she said. “I’m very happy because I’ve done well.”
Like many young athletes, Kostyuk’s mother played a big role in her development. Former professional Talina Beiko, who played for Ukraine in the Fed Cup, led Marta to the professional ranks. But navigating the fine line between coach and mother was never easy, and Kostyuk sometimes worried about what her mother would think of her performance.
In August 2023, she decided to carve a new path. She hired Sandra Zaniewska, a former pro from Poland, and together they worked on improving her consistency and working on her mental game. Zaniewska was patient and understanding, focusing on “every piece of the puzzle” and letting her know that she was 100% behind on everything.
“I think she deserves all the credit because she really put her soul into this work with me,” Kostyuk said this week. “She’s changed me a lot as a person. We’ve grown together in this working relationship. Certainly, I definitely wouldn’t be here without her.”
Cue the backflip 🤩 @marta_kostyuk wins straight-sets over Andreeva and runs for first career WTA 1000 title! #MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/sRIJwo8u9M
— wta (@WTA) May 2, 2026
Adds consistency to her athleticism and shot-making
Kostyuk has always been a good all-around athlete and even performed a back handspring when she won in Madrid, something she learned during her seven years of acrobatic training. Her court coverage at Roland Garros this year seemed to be on another level, especially side-to-side, and she was retrieving game-winning balls against most other opponents.
She continues to rack up wins — her 172 total in five games here ranks fourth overall — but she’s also far more consistent than she’s been in the past.
“I’m the most stable I’ve ever been in my career,” she said. “Technically, I’m still at the disadvantage. We’ll see. Maybe a lot of things will change after this tournament.”
make wise decisions
That’s true both on and off the court. Kostyuk’s clay court success this year began in Rouen, where Zaniewska wanted to play. That was despite the fact that the WTA 250 was held in the same week as the WTA 500 in Stuttgart, and offered more prize money and ranking points. Zaniewska thought it was important for Kostyuk to remain in the tournament as long as possible and, most importantly, to experience what it was like to be a favorite to win rather than an underdog, as well as playing against a stronger field in Germany.
It worked perfectly, she took the Rouen title and she arrived in Madrid with great confidence. There, she surprised everyone by winning her first WTA 1000. Even on the court, where he was once overcome by emotion, Kostyuk remained focused and determined, not allowing any moment of adversity to drag on.
Mission to Ukraine
Kostyuk has been one of the most outspoken figures about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and is determined to keep what is happening in his homeland out of the public consciousness. On the first day of the tournament, she received word that there had been a missile attack just 100 meters from her parents’ home.
Like her compatriot Elina Svitolina, she feels that she is a woman with a mission, and the better she performs on the court, the more joy she can bring to people at home.
At Roland Garros, it seemed like a quiet strength was driving her through the draw. After defeating Svitolina, she dedicated her victory to Ukraine and said that she had received many messages of support from her home country.
“I’m still trying to do things, trying to do what I can to make an impact, and whenever I have a moment where I remember that, I use my platform, I use my speech,” she said.
