Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk played her first match in the main draw of US Open 2026 and secured a confident victory. The 24-year-old handled Australian Storm Hunter in two sets — 6:4, 6:1 — to advance to the second round of the tournament. The match was not particularly dramatic: the Ukrainian took the first set 6:4, and in the second she left her opponent with almost no chances, conceding just a single game. In total, the encounter lasted only one hour and eight minutes, which speaks to Kostyuk's high level of play from the very first minutes.

Match Progress and Statistics

The match statistics confirm the Ukrainian's dominance on court. Marta Kostyuk hit eight aces while committing two double faults and twelve unforced errors. Her reliability in key moments deserves special attention: the player saved two of three break points, which became an important factor in the fight for games. The final score of 6:4, 6:1 reflects the even and controlled nature of the match, in which Kostyuk did not allow Hunter to mount any serious resistance.

The Ukrainian's Reaction to the Victory

Commenting on her result, Marta Kostyuk emphasized that matches against qualifiers are never easy. "First of all, I'm happy to be back here. I'd like to thank the crowd for their support. It's always a great pleasure to play in this tournament. You know, it's never easy to play against qualifiers. Because they've already played a whole tournament by the time the main draw starts. But I'm happy with my performance and how I felt today," the Ukrainian noted. These words underscore that even with a crushing score, the player regarded her opponent as a serious adversary who had traveled a long path through the qualifiers.

What's Next: Opponent in the Second Round

In the second round of the US Open, Marta Kostyuk will face the winner of the Sloane Stephens (USA) — Clara Tauson (Denmark) match. Thus, the Ukrainian is set to meet one of two experienced tennis players, which promises a tougher contest than in the first round. It is also worth noting Kostyuk's form ahead of the season's main tournament: at the preceding event in Cincinnati, she successfully reached the quarterfinals, where she lost to the eventual champion Coco Gauff. This result was a good indicator of the Ukrainian's readiness to compete on hard courts ahead of US Open 2026.