"I’d love to be considered the favourite, but I still don’t think that’s the case" - Kostyuk still underdog in Swiatek showdown at Roland Garros despite unbeaten clay streak

Marta Kostyuk improved throughout the match against Viktorija Golubic, playing some brilliant tennis in the second set to come out on top 6-4, 6-3 and confirm a spot in the fourth round of Roland Garros. She will take on a certain Iga Swiatek, a showdown she is excited for.

Looking back on the match, Kostyuk was pleased to have dealt with the challenging conditions. "I felt like I started really well, then I was rushing a bit," she told the media. "It was a tricky match. It was very humid today and I think everyone is feeling worse and worse with every day in this heat. I’m excited that it’s not going to be like this on Sunday anymore. I think I had enough patience today to close the match in two sets while still being aggressive."

Kostyuk is now 15-0 on clay in 2026. She won the title in Rouen and Madrid, her maiden WTA 1000 triumph, before reaching the fourth round at Roland Garros in an incredible showing.

"I don’t really think about it. I just play match by match," she admitted. "It’s a Grand Slam, it’s a different tournament. Of course I’m happy with the streak, but I don’t think about it too much."

What she does take under consideration is the different clay surfaces in all the tournaments competed in this part of the season. "Madrid is much faster and the points are shorter," she explained. "Here it’s very slow. If you’re playing opponents who run well and get lots of balls back — like Katie and Victoria did against me — then you really have to construct the point and wait for the right opportunity to finish it. You can’t rush. That’s probably been the biggest adjustment because I love to play aggressively and come forward, but here I really need to take my time.

"At the same time, I love the high bounce because it gives me advantages in certain patterns and allows me to do different things with my game. It’s also been extremely hot, but I think conditions on Sunday will actually make the court even slower. It should be a really interesting match."

Up next is someone that has ruled Roland Garros on clay before, although her form on the surface has been left much to desire in recent times. Iga Swiatek has not reached a final on clay since the 2024 Paris Olympics, Roland Garros that year for WTA, and she is desperate to get her title back.

It is not an easy task for either player. So far, Kostyuk has been unable to better the Pole. One of these came back in the French Open in 2021. "I’ve lost to her three times, one of them during juniors. I’m very excited for this match. I’ve wanted to play her again for a while," she said.

"She obviously loves playing here, but I feel like I have every chance. I’m definitely the underdog in this match, but I’m going to go out there and enjoy it as much as I can."

However, the Ukrainian is in brilliant form, whereas the four-time champion can be sought after on the court. "I definitely feel different going into this match. The last time I played her in Cincinnati, I felt like I lost the match before it even started mentally. I don’t feel that way this time," she said.

"But I’m still the player who’s lost to her three times, and she’s won this tournament four times. So I’d love to be considered the favourite, but I still don’t think that’s the case, even with my streak. Still, it’s not going to ruin my day or affect my game. I want to go out there, try my best and enjoy it. I’ve never even taken a set off her, so honestly, if I win one set next match, I’ll already be very happy. That’s how I’m looking at it."

There have been a lot of talk about the covers at the back of the court. Already there has been some very concerning incidents involving players tripping up and injuring themselves. The latest coming in a doubles match where Zeynep Sonmez tripped over and slammed into the wall in a nasty incident that ended her campaign.

Another was Alexander Blockx while practicing ahead of his second round clash against Alex de Minaur, being forced to pull out of the tournament. Kostyuk also came up with some more examples. "I’ve witnessed two injuries like this before — one with David Goffin here, and I think Kirsten Flipkens in Abu Dhabi. I was watching that match and she stepped on the same kind of thing."

She was displeased about it. "It’s terrible. I had one moment in my previous match where my opponent hit a really deep lob and I was really far back. Usually I just let that ball go because honestly I’d rather lose the point than get injured.

"At the WTA event in Rome we were walking past a practice court where Reilly Opelka was returning serves while standing right near one of those covers. I remember looking at it and thinking, 'This doesn’t look good. It’s really dangerous.' I’m obviously very sorry for Zeynep Sönmez and hopefully it’s nothing serious. I try to be very careful and aware of it. I don’t really know what can be done, though. It feels like some rules just never change no matter how much people talk about them."

Being Ukrainian, Kostyuk is a number of players on the WTA Tour who has widely spoken about the devastating conflict occurring. She was in tears before and after her opening match at Roland Garros after a missile came 100 metres from hitting her parents home.

"I always feel support from home, especially when I lose." she stated. "I was very happy again today to see so many Ukrainian flags and hear Ukrainian people in the crowd. It’s always really nice that people follow tennis and become fans of the sport."

It is not just Ukrainian tennis players speaking about it. Reigning champion Coco Gauff has been known to be quite outspoken, happy to discuss topics away from tennis including political issues. "As for Coco, I fully agree with everything she says," Kostyuk gleefully said.

"I was very outspoken myself at the beginning of the war and I felt like I did everything I could. If she’s able to make an impact by speaking out, then I’m fully supportive of it. I just personally don’t have the energy to fight that battle anymore. I did it for more than a year and a half and it was difficult for me emotionally."

It was also how she spoke on the issues that got praise from the 23-year-old. "I don’t think she says anything bad about anyone. She’s usually just talking about facts and what actually happened, which I don’t think is ever a bad thing. I’m also incredibly impressed by how she’s able to separate those issues from tennis. I listened to her whole press conference and she said it doesn’t bother her on court, that all she thinks about is playing tennis. Honestly, I couldn’t do that back then. I couldn’t separate it at all. So congrats to her — it’s very impressive. She’s also younger than I was when all of this started for me. I’m definitely rooting for her."