Kostyuk breaks Alexanderova for the first time: Ukrainian reaches US Open 2026 quarterfinals after dominant 6-3, 6-2 win

Ukraine's No. 2 and the world's No. 11, Marta Kostyuk, advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2026 US Open, defeating the Russian player Kateryna Alexanderova (WTA 19) for the first time in her career — an opponent who has traditionally been difficult for her. The third-round match, played on the courts in New York on September 4, 2026, ended 6-3, 6-2 in favor of the Ukrainian in 1 hour 18 minutes. This is reported by Sport RBC.UA, citing the official match result.

Match progression: from a powerful surge to a rout

Kostyuk started the first set with a confident 3-0 run, not giving her opponent a single moment of comfort on the court. Despite Alexanderova's attempts to stabilize her game, Marta held her advantage and closed out the set 6-3. In the second set, the Ukrainian suffered a small dip, losing the two opening games and finding herself down 0-2. However, it was precisely at this moment that Marta's character shone through: she won six games in a row, not allowing the Russian to break her serve even once, and finished the set 6-2. The total duration of the match was 1 hour 18 minutes — a result that shows Kostyuk fully controlled the flow of the match after the opening stretch of the second set.

First win over a "difficult" opponent

This victory was truly special for Marta. Prior to this matchup, the two had met twice — in 2021 and 2022 — and in both cases the "neutral" player Alexanderova emerged as the winner. Thus, Kostyuk has managed to break the psychological barrier associated with this pairing for the first time in her career. In the Ukrainian tennis community, Alexanderova has traditionally been regarded as one of Marta's most difficult opponents, and today's win closes this chapter in the Ukrainian's favor.

Third consecutive Grand Slam with a fourth-round appearance

Thanks to this victory, Kostyuk has reached the US Open quarterfinals for the second consecutive season, matching her best result on the New York courts. Moreover, the Ukrainian has now reached at least the fourth round in three consecutive Grand Slam tournaments, underscoring the consistency of her form at the season's biggest events. For the 23-year-old player, this is an important stage in her career: regular top-16 appearances at the Slams cement her status in the world's top ten.

Who is the next opponent

Marta Kostyuk's opponent in the battle for a quarterfinal spot will be determined by the match between Czech player Linda Noskova and American player Ann Li. The match for a place in the US Open 2026 top 8 will take place in the coming days on the courts of the Billie Jean King Center or Arthur Ashe Stadium. For Kostyuk, this will be yet another chance to extend her run of successful results on American soil and, possibly for the first time in her career, reach the US Open semifinals.