By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, June 2, 2026
Photo credit: Julien De Rosa/AFP/Getty
Aerial acrobatics mark Marta Kostyuk’s flight path during this perfect clay campaign.
Kostyuk famously flipped out after winning the Madrid final.
Today, Kostyuk flew through 12 of the final 13 points fending off good friend and compatriot Elina Svitolina to soar into her maiden Roland Garros semifinal with a 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 triumph.
In the first-ever all Ukrainian women’s major quarterfinal, Kostyuk cracked 33 winners—10 more than Svitolina—and asserted her all-court acumen in the decisive set. Kostyuk hit 17 of her 33 winners, including five of six net points, in that final set.
A streaking Kostyuk scored her 17th consecutive clay-court win—including her Billie Jean King Cup triumph for Ukraine—and stand as the only woman undefeated on clay this season with a perfect 17-0 mark on dirt.
Ukrainian flags were flying in the stand as Kostyuk snapped Svitolina’s 10-match winning streak then paid tearful tribute to the friend she calls “a Ukrainian tennis legend” and the strength and resilience of the Ukrainian people who have empowered her during this dynamic dirt run.
Embed from Getty Images
An emotional Kostyuk embraced Svitolina at net then cried during her on-court interview paying tribute to those who inspire her and dedicating this major moment to the Ukrainian people.
“We’ve had some very difficult nights again in Ukraine, especially in Kyiv,” Kostyuk said. “So many people dead. I want to give this match to the Ukrainian people and their resilience. Thank you. Slava Ukraini.”
Beneath the closed Court Chatrier roof, Kostyuk showed high ceiling in a stirring close to today’s all-Ukrainian quarterfinal. Eight years after Svitolina swept Kostyuk, 6-2, 6-2, in their maiden meeting at the 2018 Australian Open, the 15th seed turned the tables in a near flawless finish to this match.
Spare a thought for Svitolina, who defeated Elena Rybakina, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff in succession to capture her third Rome championship last month but could not slow a superb Kostyuk’s roll down the stretch today.
“Of course I want to point out Elina and her incredible impact on Ukrainian tennis and on Ukrainians and on me,” Kostyuk said. “She’s an unbelievable fighter and I’m so happy to be through to the semifinals. And I want to thank her again for this incredible match.”
The confidence that comes from a 17-match winning streak empowered Kostyuk to swing freely at crunch time, Svitolina said.
“Obviously, in a couple of weeks that she won Madrid and really had a flawless kind of the spirit of time with so many wins,” Svitolina said. “Yeah, I think she’s playing really, really high level and, yeah, deserves all this wins, deserves all the titles around the beginning, and then winning Madrid and, yeah, this great streak.
“Of course, you know, that it’s normal that you get a lot of confidence and play very free, you know, in a way. So, yeah, it’s great what she does.”
The victory vaults Kostyuk into a rematch of the Madrid final against Russian Mirra Andreeva.
Earlier, the 19-year-old Andreeva crushed 36-year-old Romanian Sorana Cirstea, 6-0, 6-3 to storm into her second Roland Garros semifinal in the last three years.
The eighth-seeded Andreeva has won 10 of 11 sets she’s played as she aims for a maiden major final two years after partnering Diana Shnaider to the Olympic doubles silver medal at Roland Garros.
“It’s going to be a very tough match,” Andreeva said of the semifinal. “Obviously, there are no easy opponents, especially when you’re going to be playing the semifinal of a Grand Slam.
“I think we’re just going to try to prepare my best. I’m just going to try to do everything I can on the court, fight, and we’ll see. The better player will win.”
Thirty-days ago, all-court acrobat Kostyuk clipped Andreeva 6-3, 7-5 in the Mutua Madrid Open final then celebrated with a brilliant back flip.
Marta Kostyuk celebrates winning her 1st WTA 1000 title in Madrid by doing a BACKFLIP on court
AURA. pic.twitter.com/pg3fBIN1xC
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 2, 2026
In that match, Kostyuk cranked her inside-out forehand with precision, converted all four break points she earned and covered the court with vigor defeating Andreeva for the second time this season. Former gymnast Kostyuk stuck the landing in Madrid and aims to continue her ascent in Paris.
Flying off to a fast start, Kostyuk won eight of the first nine points in seizing a 4-1 lead. Kostyuk broke for 5-3 then staved off two break points to serve out a one-set lead.
Spreading the court with sharp angles and soft touch, Svitolina carved a drop volley winner for break point. When Kostyuk’s running forehand down the line, Svitolina scored the first break of the second set for 2-0.
The three-time Rome champion had won all seven of her trips to net in the set as she held for 4-1.
Changing direction down the line effectively, Svitolina smacked a backhand down the line for a second set point. When Kostyuk’s running forehand found the net on the fifth shot of the rally, Svitolina broke again to snatch the second set and force a decider after 77 minutes of play.
While the 31-year-old Svitolina is the more experienced player, the 23-year-old Kostyuk was the aggressor as the compatriots played one final set for a trip to the semifinals.
Resetting, the Madrid champion came right back to break to start the final set. Kostyuk tried driving her two-hander down the line but lined the ball into net as Svitolina broke back in the second game.
Svitolina netted her third double fault as Kostyuk broke again for a 2-1 lead in the decider.
Lifting her level in the sixth game, Kostyuk slammed a smash, slid an ace out wide and fired a forehand forging a love hold for a 4-2 lead.
Moving fluidly, Kostyuk cracked a forehand pass and Svitolina netted the volley. That exchange gave Kostyuk her sixth service break and a 5-2 advantage.
Slashing her fourth ace brought Kostyuk to triple match point. Kostyuk cracked a serve winner out wide sealing a strong performance in one hour, 49 minutes.
Kostyuk pinned a loss on a Ukrainian legend and Svitolina said she’ll be rooting for her compatriot to bring the title home.
“I will be watching the match and definitely cheering for her hopefully that she can get the title. I think it’s
going to be massive for Ukraine,” Svitolina said.