Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk concluded her performance at the WTA Finals 2026 with a defeat in her final group-stage match. She faced American Coco Gauff, and the match ended in straight sets. The turning point of the encounter was three missed set points by Kostyuk in the second set, after which the Ukrainian lost six games in a row. The match lasted 1 hour and 33 minutes, marking Marta's third defeat at this tournament and officially closing her path to the semifinals.
Match Progression: From Surge to Collapse
In the first set, Coco Gauff quickly seized the initiative and took a 5:2 lead. Following this, Kostyuk took a medical timeout due to issues with her right wrist. Returning to the court, the Ukrainian narrowed the gap, but the American maintained her advantage to take the set. In the second set, control over the game shifted to Kostyuk: she led 3:0, and later medical assistance was needed by Gauff herself, who experienced lower back and hip problems. Upon returning, Gauff won only one game, after which Kostyuk brought the score to 5:1 and earned three set points on her opponent's serve—failing to convert any of them.
Statistics Did Not Reflect the Outcome
In several key metrics, Kostyuk was not inferior to her opponent. The Ukrainian committed five double faults compared to nine by Gauff and had a higher first-serve percentage at 62% against 59%. In unforced errors, the players were virtually tied: 28 for Marta and 27 for the American. Thus, the defeat was caused not by an overall advantage in play, but specifically by unconverted opportunities on the opponent's serve and the subsequent sequence of six lost games, during which Gauff secured three breaks.
Seven Losses in a Row — A Career Record
The defeat against Gauff marked Kostyuk's seventh consecutive loss, representing the longest losing streak of her professional career. The Ukrainian had to retire in one of those matches due to injury in Ningbo, China. Her last victory came in the Round of 32 at the US Open. At the WTA Finals itself, this is Marta's third loss: earlier she fell to Czech Linda Noskova and American Jessica Pegula, with both matches also ending in straight sets, prematurely ending her semifinal chances.
The Most Successful Season in Career
Despite the concluding losing streak, the 2026 season has been Kostyuk's most productive on the women's tour. The Ukrainian reached the semifinals of two Grand Slam tournaments—Roland Garros and Wimbledon—and also won the WTA 1000 event in Madrid. These achievements define the overall context of her performance in the outgoing season.
Svitolina Keeps Semifinal Hopes Alive
Unlike Kostyuk, another Ukrainian representative, Elina Svitolina, keeps her chances of reaching the WTA Finals semifinals alive. To achieve this, she needs to defeat neutral athlete Aryna Sabalenka in her final group-stage match. Prior to this, Svitolina earned an important comeback victory over Czech Karolina Muchova, rebounding after losing the first set. The Svitolina vs. Sabalenka match will take place on Friday, November 13, as the second match of the session.
