Kostyuk: "I am at the best moment of my career, many things will change after this tournament"

The face of Marta Kostyuk is that of a woman who believes she is capable of anything. Only in this way can you achieve a victory like this morning's at Philippe Chatrier against Iga Swiatek, demonstrating that this Roland Garros has become completely crazy.

Or perhaps it's not crazy to think of Marta Kostyuk as a possible Roland Garros champion. A woman who has yet to lose a match on this clay court tour and who, this Sunday, in a display of maturity, has eliminated the only player left in the draw with a title here in Paris. The victory was decisive, unequivocal, much like her subsequent press conference, where she showed a mood unlike any seen before.

Marta Kotyuk analyzes her victory over Iga Swiatek

"It definitely feels great. I'm very happy with the streak, very pleased to be in the quarterfinals, so now I plan to celebrate a bit. I think many things came together this year on clay due to what happened in Madrid, although it wasn't my best tournament either. It was a good feeling not going to Rome; I think that helps me give myself more space. I'm enjoying more, creating points, facing challenges, learning to handle difficult situations in matches. I've been doing well, so I'm happy."

No longer seen as an 'underdog'

"I don't plan to hold onto that position anymore, but I think the match we had was a great encounter, although in the end, I still believe I was the least favorite. Things change in tennis, but now I'm much more consistent. I'm at the best moment of my career, but I still have a long way to go to be among the top 5 or 10. I don't know, I'm still further behind than these girls in the rankings. Technically, I'm still the least favorite. We'll see, maybe many things will change after this tournament, or maybe not. I won't be considered the least favorite anymore, but I don't mind being in both positions; I'll accept it as it comes."

The keys to her victory over Iga

"I think I was putting a lot of pressure on her second serve, mainly. Today, she didn't do much damage with the first serve; I just returned everything. It's not easy to play against someone who returns all of your serves and puts a lot of pressure on the second. I don't think she was serving well in some games, but then I found a way at the end of the first set and in the second. Yes, that was the key, but I don't know. I think I have a good return, and I don't mind coming to the net to return serves with spin, which is a problem for many girls and also for the guys. I think as the match progressed, she felt it more and more, so her serve became more desperate, in the sense that she served harder, made more double faults, or actually served slower, giving me more time to intervene."

An evolution pointing towards the top 10

"Everything is changing; you can't stay stuck in the same place. You get used to certain things, but you have to change your strategy, your way of facing them, and also evolve. I would say that right now the most important thing for me is that nothing is so big, no point is so crucial. Something new always comes up, so I always try to keep that in mind and think long-term about what kind of player I want to be and where I want to be. For me, this is the most important thing when I play. In the end, you can do things right, but miss the shots or lose the match, but you still did the right thing, and that is my priority."

Competing with a focus on the Ukraine war

"Before my first-round match, I told Sandra: 'Do you know? I don't even know what I'm doing here. This doesn't matter at all'. So it was difficult for me; I didn't know how the match would go because I didn't know if I would be able to focus on what mattered: winning the game and playing tennis. And yes, sometimes it gives you a different perspective, whether you think it doesn't matter to be here or, conversely, think it's great to be here, that you have this opportunity, and you're very grateful for it. It depends on the day what you think, but it definitely gave me more space and helped me understand that there are much more important things in life than tennis. And I try to always keep that in mind."

Image

Marta Kostyuk explains why she stopped training with her mother

"I stopped working with my mother at the end of 2022; I simply felt like this was it. It was bad for both of us; it was very hard, but it was something you need to distance yourself from. She's your closest person; most of your identity is based on how that person perceives you and your tennis. At that time, it was very, very difficult. It's like stepping into the unknown because you're moving away from something you've been doing with that person for 15 years. There were also tough moments for me on the court because I always thought, 'What will my mother think of how I played that shot? It's not how she would want me to play,' and things like that. So, I think it was a gradual separation, especially in my mind. It didn't happen overnight or anything like that; they're just things that... you know, many things were swirling around me until 2024. It took me a long time and a lot of work; it didn't disappear on its own. It also took me a long time to appreciate all the time I spent with her, to cherish it, be grateful for it, and, you know, have very good memories of it. That's not easy either, but the important thing is that right now we're great. We've been great for a long time. In fact, we're so good that I went back to Ukraine and practiced with my mother for a few days. It wasn't easy, and it wasn't like something new. I felt like I had sudden memories, you know, from my previous life. I definitely hold the best memories of that time."

Sandra Zaniewska, crucial in her development as a tennis player

"She told me many good things during these three years we worked together. I don't think I can highlight anything in particular in the last few weeks or months; I think we've both evolved a lot since we started working together. Yes, she honestly told me many good things; I don't think I can pinpoint just one. I just feel that in these recent weeks, I've had the feeling that she's going to support me no matter what happens. I know she's there for me, and she only wishes the best for me. I think it's the best feeling you can have as a player, and it makes you feel calmer on the court."

Elina Svitolina, opponent in the quarterfinals

"We have a very good relationship. She's a Ukrainian tennis legend, and, you know, it's a great honor to share the court with her on Tuesday. She has paved the way for many Ukrainians, both boys and girls, and she's doing great. Especially this year, she's doing amazing. I'm very excited for this match; I played with her two years ago, and, you know, I have an idea of what to expect, of course. I think it's going to be a good match."

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Kostyuk: “Estoy en el mejor momento de mi carrera, muchas cosas cambiarán después de este torneo”