Paris: Four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek suffered a shock fourth-round exit at Roland Garros on her 25th birthday as Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk produced a sensational performance to win 7-5, 6-1 and advance to the quarter-finals.
The defeat ended Swiatek’s hopes of securing a fifth French Open title and marked one of the biggest upsets of the tournament. Kostyuk’s victory also continued a remarkable run of form on clay this season and reinforced her status as one of the most dangerous players remaining in the draw.
French Open witnesses wave of major upsets
Swiatek’s elimination adds to a series of surprising results that have transformed this year’s tournament. Over the past few days, top contenders have fallen across both draws, creating one of the most unpredictable editions of Roland Garros in recent memory.
With the exits of Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic and defending women’s champion Coco Gauff, the tournament is now guaranteed to crown new champions in both the men’s and women’s singles competitions.
The unexpected results have dramatically opened up the race for the titles and reshaped the landscape of the final week.
Kostyuk seizes momentum after tight first set
The opening set was closely contested, with both players exchanging breaks and matching each other shot for shot. However, Kostyuk found an extra gear at the crucial stage of the set.
The Ukrainian held serve in the 11th game before producing a superb backhand crosscourt winner to secure the opening set 7-5. It was the first set Kostyuk had ever taken from Swiatek after losing their previous three meetings.
The breakthrough proved decisive, as confidence surged through Kostyuk’s game while Swiatek struggled to regain control.
Dominant second set seals historic win
Kostyuk carried her momentum into the second set, breaking early and racing into a commanding lead. Her aggressive baseline play and consistent shot-making left Swiatek with few answers.
The Ukrainian eventually wrapped up the match 6-1 in the second set, completing one of the biggest victories of her career and reaching the Roland Garros quarter-finals for the first time.
After match point, Kostyuk celebrated emotionally on Court Philippe-Chatrier as fans applauded her stunning performance.
The victory extended her unbeaten clay-court record this season to an impressive 15-0, following title-winning campaigns in Rouen and Madrid.
Emotional reaction from Ukrainian star
Speaking after the match, Kostyuk admitted she was still processing the significance of the result.
The Ukrainian said she approached the match with a positive mindset and focused on embracing the occasion rather than being overwhelmed by the challenge of facing a multiple-time champion.
She also reflected on her broader philosophy towards tennis, explaining that her motivation comes from her love of the sport and the opportunity to connect with fans through her performances.
Her comments resonated with spectators as she celebrated the biggest Grand Slam victory of her career.
Sabalenka emerges as favourite
With both Swiatek and Gauff eliminated, world number one Aryna Sabalenka now appears to be the leading contender for the women’s singles title in Paris.
However, Kostyuk’s exceptional form and unbeaten clay-court record make her a serious threat as the tournament enters its decisive stages.
The Ukrainian will next face either Elina Svitolina or Belinda Bencic in the quarter-finals as she seeks to continue her dream run at Roland Garros.