“These days are all about patience”: Marta Kostyuk shares ankle injury update after Australian Open exit

Wednesday, 28 January 2026 at 04:30

Marta Kostyuk provided an update on her health status following the ankle injury she suffered during her participation at the Australian Open. The world No. 23 shared on social media a photo of her recovery process from the ankle injury, where she appears wearing an orthopaedic boot.

The Ukrainian had enjoyed an ideal start to the season with a strong run in Brisbane International, where she reached the final after three consecutive victories over top-10 players (Anisimova, Andreeva and Pegula), before falling in the final to Aryna Sabalenka.

The “non-mention” of her opponent in her speech at the final generated controversy ahead of her trip to the Australian Open, while the Ukrainian arrived in Melbourne as one of the names to watch, considered a contender to go deep in the tournament and even a potential threat to the top seeds.

However, Kostyuk was eliminated as early as the first round, in a three-hour-and-a-half battle against Frenchwoman Elsa Jacquemot, which was decided in three tie-breaks: 7-6(4), 6-7(4), 6-7[7-10]. Kostyuk finished the match with serious discomfort in her ankle, which resulted in an injury.

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And just a couple of days after her elimination in Melbourne, Kostyuk made it known on social media that she had suffered an ankle injury — an issue she had already mentioned as possible pain during her press conference. The Ukrainian also withdrew from the doubles draw, where she had been entered alongside Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse.

This time, through photos shared on Instagram, Kostyuk appeared alongside her dog Mander, with whom she has been travelling regularly over the past two seasons. In the images, Kostyuk can be seen wearing an orthopaedic boot on her left leg. “After getting injured on court, these days are all about patience. I started an intensive recovery process yesterday, and I’ll take you along as I work my way back 🥹,” she posted.

Kostyuk’s schedule

Kostyuk has not provided clarity on when she will return to competition, although she already has prior commitments scheduled, for which she is still currently entered. For now, Kostyuk’s next challenges on the Tour are the Middle East WTA 1000 events, and she is entered in the Qatar Open — where she is defending quarter-final points — and the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, where she only reached the second round before being eliminated.

The Ukrainian dropped positions in the WTA ranking after failing to defend the third round she reached in 2025. She will finish the Australian Open as world No. 23 — just after receiving a small boost from her run to the final in Brisbane. Kostyuk has one WTA 250 title so far in her career, achieved at the ATX Open 2023, while she subsequently lost her next three finals — all at WTA 500 level: San Diego Open and Stuttgart in 2024, and Brisbane in 2026.

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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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