PARIS: Marta Kostyuk produced one of the biggest upsets of the French Open on Sunday, defeating four-time champion Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-1 to secure a place in the quarterfinals at Roland Garros for the first time in her career.
The victory was especially remarkable given Kostyuk’s previous record against the Polish star. Before Sunday, she had lost all three of their meetings and had never managed to win a set against the former world No. 1, who was celebrating her 25th birthday.
Kostyuk showcased exceptional defense throughout the match, tracking down Swiatek’s shots from all corners of the court while mixing in a series of stunning groundstroke winners. Her relentless play kept Swiatek under constant pressure, forcing the four-time French Open champion into a string of uncharacteristic errors.
Undefeated on clay this season, Kostyuk continued her impressive run of form with a statement victory that ended Swiatek’s title hopes and booked her spot in the last eight of the tournament.
