French Open 2025: Kostyuk beats Golubic, sets up Swiatek clash in R4
Synopsis
Marta Kostyuk's 15-match clay winning streak — built on back-to-back titles at Rouen and Madrid — has set the stage for a blockbuster French Open fourth-round rematch with four-time champion Iga Swiatek. The 2021 last-16 encounter went Swiatek's way in straight sets; this time, Kostyuk arrives as the most in-form player in the women's draw.
Key Takeaways
Marta Kostyuk defeated Viktorija Golubic to reach the French Open fourth round on 29 May 2025 .
Kostyuk's unbeaten clay-court run now stands at 15 consecutive matches , including titles at Rouen and Madrid .
She will face Iga Swiatek in the last 16 — a rematch of their 2021 Roland Garros encounter, which Swiatek won in straight sets.
Swiatek beat compatriot Magda Linette to advance and is chasing a fifth French Open crown.
Chinese qualifier Wang Xiyu reached the last 16 without dropping a set, beating Yuliia Starodubtseva .
World number one Jannik Sinner suffered a shock exit, having served for the match twice in the third set.
Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine powered into the fourth round of the French Open on Friday, 29 May, defeating Viktorija Golubic of Switzerland 6-4, 6-3 on the Parisian clay at Roland Garros. The win extends the 21-year-old's unbeaten run on clay to 15 consecutive matches and sends her into the last 16 for only the second time in her career at this tournament.
Kostyuk's Clay-Court Dominance
The 15th seed arrived in Paris on the back of back-to-back titles at Rouen and Madrid — the latter being the biggest title of her career to date. Her performance against Golubic was another demonstration of the relentless baseline aggression and improved composure that have defined her European clay-court swing this season. Notably, this is the strongest run of form Kostyuk has produced at a Grand Slam level.
Swiatek Rematch on the Cards
The fourth-round victory sets up a highly anticipated clash against Iga Swiatek, the four-time French Open champion and world number one from Poland. The two last met at this stage of Roland Garros in 2021, when Swiatek won in straight sets. Swiatek herself secured her place in the second week with a commanding 6-4, 6-4 win over compatriot Magda Linette, reinforcing her status as the overwhelming favourite for a fifth French Open crown.
The Kostyuk-Swiatek encounter is expected to be one of the marquee matches of the women's draw, pitting the tournament's standout in-form challenger against its most dominant recent champion.
Other Women's Draw Developments
Chinese qualifier Wang Xiyu continued an impressive run at Roland Garros, defeating Ukraine's Yuliia Starodubtseva 6-3, 7-5 to reach the last 16 without dropping a set. Her progress has been one of the quiet stories of the tournament's opening week.
Men's Draw: Djokovic, Zverev in Action
On the men's side, Novak Djokovic was scheduled to face Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca — a day after world number one Jannik Sinner suffered a shock third-round defeat, having twice served for the match in the third set. Second seed Alexander Zverev, for whom Roland Garros remains the only Grand Slam title to have eluded him, was set to play French wildcard Quentin Halys in the evening session. Andrey Rublev and Nuno Borges were also scheduled to meet as the race for second-week berths in the men's singles intensified.
With Sinner's exit reshuffling the men's draw, the tournament enters its second week with several compelling storylines still unresolved.
Point of View
Swiatek dismantled her in straight sets. But that was a different Kostyuk. What mainstream coverage underplays is how much the Madrid title changed her belief on clay. Swiatek remains the clear favourite, but this is the first time in years that a fourth-round opponent arrives at Roland Garros with genuine momentum rather than hope.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who did Marta Kostyuk beat to reach the French Open fourth round?
Kostyuk defeated Switzerland's Viktorija Golubic to advance to the last 16 at Roland Garros on 29 May 2025. It was the 15th consecutive clay-court win for the Ukrainian 15th seed.
Who will Kostyuk face in the French Open fourth round?
Kostyuk will face four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek in the fourth round. The two previously met at this stage of Roland Garros in 2021, with Swiatek winning in straight sets.
How has Kostyuk been performing on clay in 2025?
Kostyuk has been the standout clay-court performer of the WTA season, winning back-to-back titles at Rouen and Madrid before her run at Roland Garros. Her current unbeaten streak on the surface stands at 15 matches.
What happened to Jannik Sinner at the French Open 2025?
World number one Jannik Sinner suffered a shock defeat in the men's draw, exiting despite having served for the match twice in the third set. His exit reshuffled the top half of the men's draw heading into the second week.
Who is Wang Xiyu and how has she performed at Roland Garros 2025?
Wang Xiyu is a Chinese qualifier who has been one of the surprise packages of the tournament, reaching the last 16 without dropping a set after beating Ukraine's Yuliia Starodubtseva. Her run has been among the quieter but notable stories of the opening week.
