PARIS — Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk advanced to the fourth round of the French Open on Friday after defeating Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic in an upset victory at Roland Garros, extending her strong run during the clay-court season.
Kostyuk, seeded 15th in the tournament, secured the win on Court Simonne Mathieu as third-round matches continued under hot conditions in Paris, according to tournament organizers and media reports. Reuters reported that temperatures in the French capital climbed above 30 degrees Celsius during Friday’s play.
The 23-year-old Ukrainian has been among the form players on clay this season after winning titles in Rouen and Madrid earlier this month. Her Madrid Open victory over Russia’s Mirra Andreeva marked the biggest title of her career and lifted her to a career-high ranking inside the world top 15, according to tournament and media reports.
Friday’s result continued Kostyuk’s progress at Roland Garros after emotionally difficult circumstances earlier in the tournament. Before her opening-round match on May 24, Kostyuk said a missile strike landed near her parents’ home in Kyiv, leaving her shaken before taking the court.
“I think it was one of the most difficult matches of my career,” Kostyuk said after her first-round victory, according to the official Roland Garros website and Associated Press reports. “It was a very difficult morning for me.”
Kostyuk has frequently spoken publicly about the impact of the conflict in Ukraine on athletes from the country. Following her opening-round victory, she said she wanted “to keep going” despite the emotional strain, citing the resilience of people in Ukraine.
Her latest victory also added to a strong showing by Ukrainian women at this year’s French Open. Reuters reported that fellow Ukrainians Elina Svitolina and Yuliia Starodubtseva also advanced during the tournament’s early rounds.
Tournament organizers said fourth-round play at Roland Garros is scheduled to continue over the weekend, with Kostyuk seeking her deepest run yet at the French Open. Details of her next opponent were not immediately available.
