Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk made a surprising and frank confession during a media meeting in Kyiv. The athlete answered journalists' questions about which of the legendary or active players she would like to swap professional destinies with for a single day. Ukraine's top-ranked player chose a renowned representative of world tennis.

Ashleigh Barty, who retired from the sport at a relatively young age, became the ideal benchmark for the Ukrainian player. Kostyuk emphasized that she is attracted by the achievements of the Australian, who managed to climb to the top of the global rankings and win prestigious trophies before deciding to leave the sport.

An Ideal Sporting Scenario

Expanding on her thoughts, Marta explained the motives behind this choice in an interview with Sport RBC.UA. According to her, winning three Grand Slam tournaments, holding the world number one spot, and retiring at the age of 25 is a magnificent and balanced scenario for any professional athlete to strive for.

“I know who I would choose. I would choose Ashleigh Barty. Three Slams, 25 years old, world number one. I think that's a good example,” Kostyuk noted during the media meeting. It is worth recalling that the Australian tennis player herself hung up her racket in March 2022, shocking the sports world.

A Successful 2026 Season for Kostyuk

The current season is proving to be extremely productive and brilliant for the Ukrainian tennis player. Marta has demonstrated outstanding results on major global arenas, including a triumphant victory at the prestigious WTA 1000 tournament in Madrid, as well as confident runs to the semifinal stages at the French Open (Roland Garros) and the legendary Wimbledon.

Such achievements have allowed Kostyuk to break into the elite top 10 of the WTA world rankings for the first time in her career, cementing her status as one of the strongest tennis players on the planet. The professional community and experts continue to closely monitor the progress of the athlete as she sets new personal records.

Contradictory Data

While sports media unanimously highlight Marta Kostyuk's rapid progress in the current 2026 season and her entry into the WTA top 10, some analysts diverge in their assessments of her future prospects in Grand Slam tournaments. Part of the experts believes that psychological pressure might prevent the Ukrainian player from winning her debut Grand Slam title this year, whereas optimistic forecasts from artificial intelligence and sports commentators predict victories on the world's biggest courts in the near future.