Marta Kostyuk, the Ukrainian tennis sensation, has emerged as a formidable force on the WTA tour, slaying three Top 10 opponents in a row to reach the final of the Stuttgart WTA 500 clay-court event.
Kostyuk’s remarkable run began in the second round, where she fought off five match points to overcome No. 7 Zheng Qinwen 6-2, 4-6, 7-5. In the quarterfinals, she faced another nail-biter against No. 3 Coco Gauff, needing eight match points to secure a 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (6) victory.
On Saturday, Kostyuk faced her toughest challenge yet against No. 8 Marketa Vondrousova in the semifinals. Despite losing an early 5-1 lead, she regrouped to win the first set in a tiebreaker and cruised through the second set for a 7-6 (2), 6-2 triumph.
Kostyuk’s success against Top 10 players is no coincidence. Since Wimbledon last year, she has compiled a 7-3 record against the elite, including wins over No. 8 Sakkari, No. 6 Garcia, No. 7 Jabeur, and No. 5 Pegula.
Her impressive performance in Stuttgart has earned her a spot in the final against No. 4 Elena Rybakina. Kostyuk will be aiming to capture her third WTA title and continue her remarkable rise in the tennis world.
