Marta Kostyuk refuses to risk her health for WTA Finals dream: “I’m not going to destroy myself”
WTASaturday, 05 September 2026 at 02:30
Marta Kostyuk is refusing to let her push for the WTA Finals come at the expense of her health, insisting she will not “destroy” herself simply to secure a place at the season-ending event.
The Ukrainian has given herself a major opportunity to strengthen her case in New York, reaching the fourth round without dropping a set. She arrived at the US Open ninth in the WTA Race, just outside the qualification places.
Kostyuk's current form makes the opportunity even more significant. She has won 28 of her last 32 matches, with each of her four defeats coming against a top-10 opponent who went on to win the tournament.
But while a deep run at Flushing Meadows could move her much closer to the Finals, Kostyuk made it clear that qualification will not dictate how she manages her body for the remainder of the season.
Kostyuk refuses to push beyond her limits
Kostyuk was asked how she approaches scheduling during a season in which she is winning more matches than ever, particularly with the WTA Finals now within reach. “I think everyone does what they think is best," she said at press conference. "I always make decisions based on how my body is and what’s best for me in the moment, even if I’m going to be punished for it or, you know, lose points or whatever."
That is not simply a theoretical approach for the Ukrainian. She has already made the decision to end her season early in each of the last two years when she felt her body needed a break.
“I take my breaks when I need to. Last year, I finished the season early. Two years ago, I also finished the season early,” Kostyuk said. “But, you know, we obviously have this conversation inside the team to see how we schedule things and stuff."
The Ukrainian insisted that the conversation always comes back to the same principle.
“But then, we always go back to the fact that we’re not going to make decisions based on me trying to get into the WTA Finals," the world No. 11 stated. "If I’m not ready to play, I’m not going to, you know, destroy myself just to try to get there.”
The WTA Finals equation is complicated
Kostyuk's position in the Race means the US Open could become one of the most important tournaments of her season. She entered ninth, with Linda Noskova ahead of her in eighth and Karolina Muchova currently holding seventh.
Simply overtaking Noskova would not necessarily be enough. As Wimbledon champion, the Czech has a guaranteed qualification path if she finishes the year inside the top 20, meaning Kostyuk needs to reach at least seventh to be certain of moving into the qualifying positions.
Muchova currently has a lead of more than 500 points over Kostyuk, putting added importance on every win in New York.
The Ukrainian has already taken three of them, beating Storm Hunter, Sloane Stephens and Ekaterina Alexandrova without dropping a set. Her next opponent will be either Noskova or Ann Li.
The Race is particularly tight this year, with all 11 players currently occupying the top 11 positions still alive in New York. Kostyuk therefore has an opportunity to make significant ground, but she knows there is still a long way to go.
WTA Race (September 4, 2026)
| Position | Player | Points |
| 6 | Elina Svitolina | 4,809 |
| 7 | Karolína Muchová | 4,400 |
| 8 | Linda Nosková | 3,934 |
| 9 | Marta Kostyuk | 3,850 |
| 10 | Iga Świątek | 3,474 |
| 11 | Sorana Cîrstea | 2,415 |
A run that is difficult to ignore
There is a reason the WTA Finals question has become relevant for Kostyuk in the first place. Her results over the last few months have put her firmly into the conversation.
“I think everyone’s burned out and it’s tough,” Kostyuk said when asked whether she accepts that protecting her health could mean sacrificing ranking points or prize money. “For sure, I mean, I think we see a lot of cases of players just, you know, having surgeries, finishing the season in the middle of the season, not even, like, earlier.”
Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine poses with the trophy after her victory over Andreeva in the women's singles final during the Mutua Madrid Open
Kostyuk's position in the WTA Finals race is the result of one of the strongest stretches of her career. She has won 28 of her last 32 matches, with her only four defeats during that period coming against top-10 opponents who all went on to win the title.
She fell to Mirra Andreeva in the fourth round of Roland Garros and Linda Noskova at the same stage of Wimbledon, before losing to Iga Swiatek in Toronto and Coco Gauff in Cincinnati. Despite those setbacks, her consistency has pushed her into the WTA Finals conversation and made her current US Open run particularly significant.
Kostyuk backs Alcaraz's approach to taking breaks
Kostyuk's comments came after Carlos Alcaraz recently suggested that he may need to take more breaks during the season following a series of injuries across the tour. The Ukrainian was asked whether she could understand the Spaniard's decision, particularly as she herself is playing some of the best tennis of her career while facing an increasingly demanding schedule.
“I think everyone does what they think is best,” Kostyuk said. “If Carlos has possibility to take breaks, it’s very good for him. I mean, I think he’s such an unbelievable player that, you know, even if he takes breaks, he can come back and win tournaments.”
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“I don’t feel like I’m in this position, but, you know, if he thinks this was best for him, I think he should 100 percent do it,” she continued. “I take my breaks when I need to. Last year, I finished season early. Two years ago, I also finished the season early. So I always do what’s best.”
That same approach will remain in place even as the race for the WTA Finals becomes tighter. “If I’m not ready to play, I’m not going to, you know, destroy myself just to try to get there.”
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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