How Marta Kostyuk evolved into a Grand Slam conten...
Key takeaways
- Kostyuk was a prodigious talent as a junior.
- At 15, expectations were immense and, unsurprisingly, they were hard to handle.
- In 2026, she said she has given herself space to breathe.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Marta Kostyuk will play Mirra Andreeva on Thursday in the French Open semifinals. Franco Arland/Getty Images Simon Cambers Multiple Authors Jun 3, 2026, 06:51 PM ETEmail Print Open Extended Reactions PARIS -- Marta Kostyuk will make history Thursday when she becomes the first Ukrainian woman to play in the semifinals at the French Open. A teenage prodigy who made the third round of the Australian Open at just 15 years of age, she struggled with the pressure for many years. But after winning titles in Rouen and Madrid this year, she goes into her clash with Russian Mirra Andreeva on a 17-match winning streak on clay. Here's how she turned herself into a contender for the sport's biggest prizes.
Kostyuk was a prodigious talent as a junior. She won the junior Australian Open title at the age of 14, the second-youngest player ever to do so, and the following year, she burst onto the global scene by qualifying for the main draw in Melbourne and reaching the third round.
At 15, expectations were immense and, unsurprisingly, they were hard to handle. It took her almost three years to win her next Grand Slam match. And in the majors in general, she struggled, failing to make it past the fourth round until the 2024 Australian Open, where she made what was, until this year's Roland Garros, her only slam quarterfinal.