Marta Kostyuk endures torrid end to 2026 campaign with career-worst losing streak extended to seven as injury takes it toll

Marta Kostyuk received a lifeline following Elena Rybakina’s WTA Finals withdrawal. She would make her debut in the climax event of the season, but her early elimination has compounded what has been a miserable end to the campaign. She is currently enduring her worst form on the court, having lost her last seven tennis matches.

The alternate had little to no momentum heading to Indian Wells. Her winless streak began at the US Open against Linda Noskova in three sets. She entered the Guadalajara Open in the quarter-finals thanks to Taylor Townsend withdrawing but fell short against Liudmila Samasonova.

Her WTA Finals chances seemed to be getting more unrealistic, and a three-set loss to Maria Sakkari abruptly ended her Wuhan Open. She returned a week later to Ningbo but retired after losing the first set against Ekaterina Alexandrova.

Nevertheless, she would be available to fill in the big shoes of Rybakina, who pulled out due to a viral illness. She failed to make the most of her opportunity, exiting the round robin phase after straight set defeats to Noskova and Jessica Pegula.

The 24-year-old wanted to depart with her head held high and seemed to be on top against Coco Gauff in the second set. 5-1 ahead with her American opponent having had a medical timeout, she was on the receiving end of a thrilling comeback which saw the two-time Grand Slam champion survive three set points while winning six games in a row. In the final five games, Kostyuk managed to win just five points.

After the match, she confirmed that she was dealing with some pain. "I was hoping for Coco's double fault because she was double faulting a lot in that second set,” she explained to Christian’s Court. “My wrist started to hurt a lot in the first set, and then in the beginning of the second set, I wasn't sure how much longer I can play. I couldn't even hit the ball properly anymore. Coco deserves to win, she's an amazing player."

Kostyuk went on to admit that her coach, Sandra Zaniewska, believed that it would be better not to play the match. Kostyuk did, but it would not go the way she would have wanted, thus ending this 2026 season with a seventh straight defeat.

Injury has blighted the last part of her campaign, seeing her miss out on automatic qualification to Indian Wells. A wrist problem dampened any late charge, and the results showcase that she was not at her absolute best.

It should not be a reflection on her campaign, which has been glorious. She began with intent, reaching the final of the Brisbane International following wins over the likes of Amanda Anisimova, Mirra Andreeva and Pegula, going on to lose to Aryna Sabalenka in the final.

Her form would fall away with poor showings in Melbourne, California and Florida while skipping the first two WTA 1000 events in the Middle East. She was back with a bang on clay, and this is where her season really went up a notch. The Ukrainian won only a second ever WTA title, a first since 2023, at the Rouen Open before stunning the WTA Tour by triumphing at the Madrid Open.

She took a period off and returned to Roland Garros, continuing to steamroll any opponents that dared to challenge her. That included Iga Swiatek and Elina Svitolina. However, her 16-match winning streak on clay came to an end in her first ever Grand Slam semi-final, losing to the eventual champion Andreeva in an act of revenge after Madrid.

Kostyuk backed up that feat at Wimbledon but again fell victim to the player who would go on to win the title, Noskova. Funnily enough, she would exit the Canadian Open and Cincinnati Open to Swiatek and Gauff, making it four consecutive tournaments where the player she would lose to would win the title. A good omen possibly, but not for Noskova at Flushing Meadows.

That is when her form really fell off a cliff, but to compete at the WTA Finals and end the campaign in the top 10 is hugely encouraging and a big boost heading into 2027.