Iga Swiatek surprisingly eliminated in the round of 16 at Roland-Garros by Marta Kostyuk

Paris – 31.05.2026: The extraordinary Polish tennis player Iga Swiatek, four-time champion at Roland-Garros, was eliminated on Sunday in the round of 16 by the Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk. The Ukrainian player, recently dominant on clay, prevailed with a tactically smart and mentally solid performance at the Porte d’Auteuil. Kostyuk remained unbeaten on her favorite surface, while Swiatek had to prematurely end her run towards another Grand Slam success.

The match quickly turned into a demonstration of Kostyuk’s varied playing style. With precise slice and topspin shots, she consistently put pressure on Swiatek, who was unable to find her rhythm. The nineteen-year-old Ukrainian showed unusual calm and decisively seized the opportunities that arose. Swiatek, known primarily for her powerful forehand attack, appeared visibly uncertain, making more errors than usual.

This defeat represents a clear turning point in the tournament, as Swiatek had started as the big favorite of the seasonal event and had dominated on Parisian clay in 2020, 2022, 2023, and again in 2025. Marta Kostyuk, on the other hand, is collecting important wins against established opponents on the WTA circuit and with this success at Roland-Garros confirms the rise of her career. Her record on clay remains impeccable.

The match lasted almost two hours and was decided by numerous intense rallies. Kostyuk’s consistency and skillful placement forced the Polish player into a defensive stance. The Ukrainian served powerfully and variably, showing tactical maturity that gave her an important advantage in the decisive moments of the contest against the experienced Swiatek.

Swiatek will now have to revise her plans for the season and face a setback after this early exit. For Kostyuk, however, this victory represents a crucial milestone that propels her forward in the Roland-Garros draw and further strengthens her confidence. The tournament thus loses one of its top favorites while a new interesting duel for the title is emerging.

The next opponent of Marta Kostyuk at Roland-Garros is not yet determined, but with this blow the young Ukrainian sends a clear message to the competition: she is ready for the biggest challenges. In the French capital, the development of this Grand Slam now promises even more excitement and spectacular matches.

Roland-Garros remains a stage for dramatic turns where not only the most experienced champions win, but also young talents like Marta Kostyuk know how to seize their chance. The season on French red clay thus gains a new element of suspense that once again underlines the importance of this tournament in international tennis.