Two leading Ukrainian tennis players, Elina Svitolina and Marta Kostiuk, have officially guaranteed their participation in the prestigious WTA Finals. Thanks to successful performances at the French Open, both athletes have firmly secured their places in the top eight of the season's Race to the Finals.
According to updated data from the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), the positions of the Ukrainian representatives in the rankings have become secure. The result of the final match at the French Open can no longer affect their chances of joining the elite club of participants for the year-end tournament, which traditionally takes place in November.
Results at the French Open and Ranking Updates
The success of the Ukrainian team on the Parisian clay courts was the decisive factor for breaking into the top 8. Elina Svitolina, who reached the quarterfinals of the major, climbed to 4th place in the Race to the Finals. Marta Kostiuk, who made it to the semifinals, took 7th place.
The Race to the Finals is a specialized ranking that runs from the beginning of the calendar year and sums up the points earned by players at tournaments during the current season. It is the eight best tennis players according to this race who receive direct invitations to the WTA Finals.
As of June 5, the situation in the "qualification zone" looks as follows: just outside the top eight, but in close proximity, are Canadian Rebecca Marino (2392 points) and Romanian Sorana Cîrstea (1855 points).
Svitolina's Experience and Kostiuk's Debut
For Elina Svitolina, participation in the WTA Finals is a familiar event. The Ukrainian already has a victory at the WTA Finals in her record, which she achieved in 2018. In 2019, she reached the final, and in 2017, she participated in the group stage. Thus, Elina has already competed at this prestigious forum three times.
For Marta Kostiuk, however, the current season opens up entirely new horizons. The top eight players of the season is a level that the young tennis player has never reached before. Now she has a unique opportunity to compete for the first time alongside elite opponents at the year-end stage.
Focus on Well-being, Not Numbers
Despite the high ranking and guaranteed participation in the final tournament, Elina Svitolina's team does not allow itself to relax, nor does it obsess over statistics. In an interview with the publication "Champion," the number one Ukrainian player shared her opinion on the current stage.
"Andy (Andrew Bettles — coach) and I talked about this even after the Miami tournament. He said that I had already accumulated enough points by then. Even if I hadn't won a single match before the French Open, I would still have been in the fight for the top 8 of the season," Svitolina noted.
According to the athlete, the number of points earned during this stretch of the season is a record for her. Therefore, the priority for the team now is not monitoring the qualification table, but maintaining physical and mental health.