Parisian clay has become the stage for Marta Kostiuk's latest triumph. Ukraine's top-ranked player, seeded 15th at the tournament, confidently advanced to the fourth round of the French Open by defeating Switzerland's Viktorija Golubic. This victory not only added another line to her statistics but also allowed the Kyiv native to set a new personal record for consecutive wins on clay courts.
A Battle of Nerves and Will to Win
The third-round match turned into a true chess game. The first set was as tense as any final: the rivals traded breaks twice, neither willing to yield the initiative. The decisive moment came on Golubic's serve in the tenth game. It took Marta four attempts to convert the crucial break point and close the set 6-4.
The second set was dictated by the Ukrainian. A powerful 3-0 start demoralized her opponent. Despite Golubic's attempts to regain control, Kostiuk held her ground and secured a two-set victory. The match lasted just over an hour and a half, but every shot was infused with concentration and a desire to win.
A Historic Streak and Dominance
This victory was truly historic for Marta. She extended her unbeaten streak on clay to 15 consecutive matches, breaking her own absolute record. Moreover, this marks her third consecutive win against Viktorija Golubic — the Ukrainian remains completely unbeatable in head-to-head encounters against the Swiss player.
The path to this success was arduous but fruitful. In the first round, Kostiuk crushed former Russian Oksana Selekhmetieva, and in the second, she easily handled the tenacious American Katie Volynets. Now, solidifying her status as Ukraine's top player, she continues her upward trajectory at the world's most prestigious clay-court tournament.
An Ukrainian Day in Paris
Roland Garros 2026, with a record prize fund of nearly 26 million euros, has become a true test for Ukrainian tennis. While Marta has already secured her place in the top 16, today, May 29, Elina Svitolina and Yulia Starodubtseva will play their third-round matches. The entire world waits with bated breath to see how many more Ukrainian players can advance to the next stage of this grand tournament.