Iga Swiatek’s hopes of winning a fifth Roland Garros title in six years came to a grinding halt on Sunday afternoon.
Marta Kostyuk, the Madrid Open champion, defeated Swiatek 7-5, 6-1 on Court Philippe Chatrier.
As a consequence, the Polish star has now failed to reach the Roland Garros quarter-finals for the first time since making her debut at the event in 2019.
How far can Marta Kostyuk go at Roland Garros? Is Iga Swiatek’s Roland Garros reign officially over?
After an inconsistent start to the season, Swiatek appeared to have found her groove under the guidance of coach Francisco Roig.
However, Sunday’s result represented yet another disappointment for the Pole, and Mats Wilander has been left ‘disappointed.’
Mats Wilander left ‘disappointed’ by Iga Swiatek’s game after her loss to Marta Kostyuk
“I think Kostyuk, when she comes out with such a definite game plan to take the second serve two metres inside the baseline; and with Iga, I don’t see a game plan,” Wilander, a three-time Roland Garros champion, claimed while on punditry duties for TNT Sports.
“I see somebody that’s just hitting the ball left and right,” the Swedish tennis legend remarked. “I don’t see the height that I’m looking for for her forehand. I’d like to see her, but then Kostyuk is so aggressive and can hit winners from both times.
“She’s sort of intimidating to play against that would think, Kostyuk, because she moves well, she hits the ball hard, and she’s got an unbelievably good attitude.
“Like, I am the boss here. I’m controlling things, and I mean, she’s a serious threat.”
“Obviously, after having won Madrid and playing this well, but in the end, a little bit disappointed in Iga’s tennis, to be honest, right now.
“She hasn’t seemed to find, even with the help of Francisco Roig and Rafael Nadal, she hasn’t seemed to be able to find the clay-court tennis that she won here four times with.”
It certainly was a disappointing performance by Swiatek, who will now turn her attention towards the grass-court swing.
Swiatek is defending 2,325 ranking points during the grass-court season after reaching the final of the 2025 Bad Homburg Open and winning the 2025 Wimbledon Championships.
As for Marta Kostyuk – who is quickly emerging as a contender for the Roland Garros title – she will play Elina Svitolina in the Roland Garros quarter-final.
Svitolina, also from Ukraine, came back from a set down to defeat Belinda Bencic 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 on Thursday.
Marta Kostyuk reacts to beating Iga Świątek
“I’m still in shock, you know, to beat such an unbelievable player who won four times here and I lost [three] times to her before this,” Kostyuk said after Sunday’s contest, as per rolandgarros.com.
“So, never taken a set off her, it’s incredible. I still cannot believe it.”
Kostyuk is absolutely correct in her assessment: she had never before won a set against Swiatek, let alone beaten the Polish superstar.
Swiatek has previously beaten the Ukrainian at the 2021 French Open, 2024 Indian Wells and the 2024 Cincinnati Open.
Kostyuk will hope she can carry her excellent form into her contest with compatriot Elina Svitolina.
If Kostyuk defeats Svitolina, she will play either Sorana Cirstea, Jill Teichmann or Mirra Andreeva in the semi-finals.
