Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine emerged victorious at the Madrid Open, defeating Russia’s Mirra Andreeva with a score of 7-5, 6-3. This win, which took place on Saturday, marked a significant achievement for Kostyuk, who is currently ranked 23rd in the world.
The match was emotionally charged given the ongoing conflict between their countries, and neither player shook hands at the net after the final point was played. Kostyuk, overtaken by emotion, collapsed on the clay surface, covering her face with her hands following the crucial match point, which came when Andreeva’s shot sailed long. After regaining her composure, Kostyuk delighted the crowd with a celebratory backflip.
In her victory speech, she expressed gratitude, stating, “glory to God and glory to Ukraine,” reinforcing the significance of her victory beyond tennis. This title represents her third WTA championship, and notably, it’s her second consecutive title after winning in Rouen just a week earlier.
Andreeva, who turned 19 just days prior and holds the eighth position in the WTA rankings, displayed sportsmanship during the awards presentation by congratulating Kostyuk. “I want to congratulate Marta and her team for the win today and for her fantastic season,” she said while Kostyuk acknowledged her with applause. “You’ve won two tournaments in a row, so congrats.”
Kostyuk’s path to the final included impressive victories over top-ranked players. She battled her way past fifth-ranked Jessica Pegula and 13th-ranked Linda Noskova, making this final her first at an event classified as WTA 1000. In her match against Andreeva, Kostyuk was efficient on her break opportunities, converting all four she faced and saving four out of six against her opponent.
Reflecting on her journey, Kostyuk noted, “It feels unbelievable to be here right now. Up until last year, I had a 2-7 record in Madrid and never imagined I would lift the title here. It was certainly not my favorite tournament, but I want to thank the crowd for their support.”
As the tournament wraps up, eyes will turn to the men’s final, where the world number one, Jannik Sinner, is set to face third-ranked Alexander Zverev on Sunday.
