--- title: "Kostyuk plays her debut match at the WTA Finals: Ukrainian loses to Noskova in straight sets" description: "Marta Kostyuk played her debut match at the WTA Finals in Indian Wells and lost to Czech player Linda Noskova in straight sets. According to Opta Ace, this is the first matchup between two debutants at the tournament in five years." date: 2026-11-09T09:35:56.253Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/kostyuk-debut-wta-finals-loss-to-noskova tags: [wta-finals, marta-kostyuk, linda-noskova, tennis, indian-wells, elina-svitolina] author: "Inna Kinsheva" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Kostyuk plays her debut match at the WTA Finals: Ukrainian loses to Noskova in straight sets ![Tennis player Marta Kostyuk holding a racket and ball on court during a match](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/09/kostyuk-debyut-wta-finals-porazhenie-ot-noskovoy/kostyuk-debyut-wta-finals-porazhenie-ot-noskovoy-1.webp) ## Key Points - Marta Kostyuk played her debut match at the WTA Finals and lost to Linda Noskova in straight sets - According to Opta Ace, this is the first matchup between two debutants at the WTA Finals in the last five years - Kostyuk entered the tournament as an alternate following Elena Rybakina's withdrawal - Next up for the Ukrainian are matches against Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula; on November 9, Elina Svitolina will play Mirra Andreeva Ukraine's second-ranked Marta Kostyuk played her first match at the WTA Finals, which is taking place in Indian Wells. In her opening group stage fixture, her opponent was Czech tennis player Linda Noskova. The match lasted two sets and ended in a victory for the Czech representative, who demonstrated a high level of play throughout the entire match. ### Match flow: Noskova dominated the first set, Kostyuk unable to turn the second around The first set was clearly dictated by the Czech tennis player. The turning point came in the third game, where Noskova converted a break point to take her opponent's serve. After that, the Czech player extended her lead to 5:1 and confidently closed out the set in her favor, showcasing high shot precision and control over her serve. In the second set, the Ukrainian attempted to change the momentum and even took a 2:1 lead. However, Noskova quickly leveled the score, executed a crucial break, and pulled ahead 4:2. Despite Marta's best efforts and narrowing the deficit, the Czech tennis player closed out both the set and the match. ### High-stakes rivalry: An echo of the Wimbledon semifinals For Marta Kostyuk, this fixture carried special, highly principled significance. It was Linda Noskova whom the Ukrainian lost to in the Wimbledon semifinals, and this encounter at the WTA Finals presented an opportunity for revenge. However, on this day, the Czech tennis player, competing as the Wimbledon champion, proved stronger and left her opponent no chance for a turnaround. ### Historical fact: First matchup between two debutants in five years According to the analytical platform Opta Ace, this match entered history as the first encounter between two debutants at the WTA Finals in the last five years. The last time spectators saw such a match was back in 2021. Thus, the meeting between Kostyuk and Noskova became a rare and memorable event for a tournament traditionally associated with the participation of multiple-time participants and finalists. ### How Kostyuk reached Indian Wells: Replacement and recovery from injury Marta Kostyuk advanced to the WTA Finals as an alternate after world No. 1 Elena Rybakina withdrew from the tournament due to health issues. The Ukrainian approached this challenge following a forced hiatus caused by a wrist injury and the premature end of her Asian tour. Nevertheless, she made her presence felt in the opening match, playing competitive tennis despite losing in straight sets. ### What's next: Two tough exams and Svitolina's parallel group Ahead for Marta Kostyuk are two more challenging group matches against Americans Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula. To advance to the tournament's playoffs, the Ukrainian needs to finish in the top two of her quartet. Meanwhile, in the tournament's parallel group on November 9, another Ukrainian tennis player, Elina Svitolina, will play her opening match against Mirra Andreeva. Her group will also feature Aryna Sabalenka and Karolina Muchova. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Костюк дебютировала на WTA Finals: чем завершился матч против чемпионки Уимблдона (видео)](https://sport.rbc.ua/ukr/tennis/kostyuk-debyutuvala-wta-finals-chim-zavershivsya-1794216627.html) - The original source contains a full breakdown of the match, Opta Ace data, information about Rybakina's replacement, and the schedule for upcoming games. All facts in the article rely on this source. ## FAQ ### Who played against Marta Kostyuk in her debut match at the WTA Finals? Marta Kostyuk's opponent in the opening group stage match was Czech tennis player Linda Noskova. The match ended in a straight-sets victory for Noskova. ### Why was the Kostyuk vs. Noskova match special? Aside from being both players' debut at the WTA Finals, the match held personal significance for Kostyuk: it was Noskova whom the Ukrainian lost to in the Wimbledon semifinals. According to Opta Ace, it is also the first matchup between two debutants at the WTA Finals in five years. ### How did Marta Kostyuk qualify for the WTA Finals? Kostyuk advanced to the tournament as an alternate after world No. 1 Elena Rybakina withdrew due to health issues. Kostyuk approached the tournament following a break caused by a wrist injury. ### What matches await Kostyuk next in the tournament? Marta Kostyuk faces two upcoming group matches against Americans Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula. To reach the playoffs, she needs to finish in the top two of her group. ### When and against whom will Elina Svitolina play at the WTA Finals? Elina Svitolina will play her opening match on November 9 against Mirra Andreeva. Her group will also feature Aryna Sabalenka and Karolina Muchova.