Kostyuk stuns Svitolina 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 to reach first French Open semis
Synopsis
Marta Kostyuk has become the first Ukrainian woman in the Open Era to reach a Roland Garros semifinal, ousting compatriot Elina Svitolina 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 in the first all-Ukrainian Grand Slam quarterfinal ever played. She dedicated the win to victims of an overnight Russian strike on Kyiv, and now faces Mirra Andreeva for a maiden Grand Slam final.
Key Takeaways
Marta Kostyuk beat Elina Svitolina 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 in the first all-Ukrainian Grand Slam quarterfinal of the Open Era.
The win extended Kostyuk's clay-court winning streak to 17 matches in 2025, after titles in Rouen and Madrid.
She becomes the first Ukrainian woman in the Open Era to reach the Roland Garros semifinals.
Svitolina's Paris quarterfinal record slipped to 0-6 , and her 10-match clay streak ended.
Kostyuk next faces eighth seed Mirra Andreeva in a rematch of the 2025 Madrid Open final.
Marta Kostyuk scripted a historic chapter in Ukrainian tennis on Tuesday, 2 June, defeating compatriot Elina Svitolina 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 in the first all-Ukrainian Grand Slam quarterfinal of the Open Era at Roland Garros. The win sends the 23-year-old into her maiden major semifinal and extends her clay-court winning streak to 17 matches.
How the quarterfinal unfolded
The 15th seed outlasted seventh-seeded Svitolina in one hour and 49 minutes, finishing with a flourish by winning 13 of the final 14 points. Kostyuk took the opener 6-3, was pegged back 2-6 in the second, then surged in the decider to seal a memorable victory on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
An emotional dedication to Ukraine
The match arrived less than 24 hours after a Russian strike across Ukraine that reportedly killed at least 18 people. In an emotional on-court interview, Kostyuk dedicated the result to her country. ‘I want to start with this historic match that we played today with Elina,' Kostyuk said. ‘We had a very difficult night again in Ukraine, especially in Kyiv. So many people are dead. I want to give this match to the Ukrainian people and to their resilience.'
A landmark for Ukrainian tennis
Kostyuk became the first Ukrainian woman in the Open Era to reach the Roland Garros semifinals, and only the third Ukrainian — after Elina Svitolina and Dayana Yastremska — to make a Grand Slam semifinal. The 23-year-old has already lifted titles in Rouen and Madrid this season, underlining her breakout on the dirt.
Svitolina's Paris hoodoo continues
For Svitolina, widely regarded as the most accomplished Ukrainian player in WTA history, the defeat extended her Paris quarterfinal record to a painful 0-6. She had entered the contest with a 10-2 career record against fellow Ukrainians and a 10-match winning streak on clay — both broken by Kostyuk's surge. The younger player also pushed her head-to-head edge to 2-1, echoing her 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 win over Svitolina in Toronto in 2024.
Kostyuk was quick to acknowledge her opponent's legacy. ‘And of course, I want to point out Elina and her incredible impact on Ukrainian tennis, on Ukrainians and on me,' she said. ‘Everyone who's watching, she's an unbelievable fighter. I'm so happy to be in the semifinals, but I want to thank her again for this incredible match.'
What's next: Andreeva rematch in the semis
Kostyuk will face eighth seed Mirra Andreeva in the last four — a rerun of this year's Madrid Open final. The Ukrainian has won both their meetings in 2025, in Brisbane and Madrid, and both players are chasing a first Grand Slam final appearance. A maiden major decider is now just one match away.
Point of View
With Svitolina's Paris ceiling now passed by her own compatriot. The 17-match clay streak signals that her Rouen and Madrid titles were not flukes but a true surface mastery built on aggression from the baseline. Andreeva looms as the toughest test, but Kostyuk owns the 2025 head-to-head and the form line. The emotional weight of dedicating the win to Kyiv on a night of fresh casualties is also a reminder that tennis, for these players, has never been a sanctuary from the war.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who did Marta Kostyuk beat to reach the 2025 French Open semifinal?
Kostyuk defeated fellow Ukrainian Elina Svitolina 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 in the quarterfinal at Roland Garros on 2 June 2025. It was the first all-Ukrainian Grand Slam quarterfinal of the Open Era.
Why is Kostyuk's win historic for Ukrainian tennis?
She is the first Ukrainian woman in the Open Era to reach a Roland Garros semifinal, and only the third Ukrainian — after Elina Svitolina and Dayana Yastremska — to make a Grand Slam semifinal. The match itself was the first all-Ukrainian Grand Slam quarterfinal of the Open Era.
Who will Kostyuk play in the French Open semifinal?
She will face eighth seed Mirra Andreeva, in a rematch of the 2025 Madrid Open final. Kostyuk has won both their meetings this season, in Brisbane and Madrid.
What did Kostyuk say about Ukraine after the match?
In her on-court interview, Kostyuk dedicated the win to Ukrainians following an overnight Russian attack that reportedly killed at least 18 people, particularly in Kyiv. She said she wanted to give the match ‘to the Ukrainian people and to their resilience'.
What is Svitolina's record in French Open quarterfinals?
With this defeat, Svitolina's record in Roland Garros quarterfinals fell to 0-6. The loss also ended her 10-match winning streak on clay this season.
