In a stunning upset at Roland Garros, Yulia Starodubtseva triumphed over world No. 2 Elena Rybakina in a gripping second-round match. The score concluded at 3-6, 6-1, 7-6(10-4), marking a significant milestone for Starodubtseva as she earned her first career victory against a Top 10 player. This unexpected defeat also quashes Rybakina’s hopes of achieving a calendar Grand Slam, following her Australian Open title earlier this year.
Rybakina, who had been seen as a strong contender for the tournament, reflected on her performance, stating, “It’s just disappointing because I felt good in practice. I thought I could elevate my game, but today was definitely not my best. I made too many unforced errors.” The Kazakh player recorded 71 unforced errors in the match, nearly double Starodubtseva’s 36, highlighting her struggles on the court.
Despite the oppressive heat, which affected ball control throughout the match, Starodubtseva maintained her composure, especially during the tiebreaker. “I just kept my focus,” she commented, showcasing her skill with an impressive forehand that outperformed Rybakina’s under pressure. After a two-hour, 28-minute battle, Starodubtseva sealed her remarkable victory with a ferocious forehand on Rybakina’s second match point.
For Rybakina, this loss marks her first second-round exit at Roland Garros since 2020, halting an impressive run of eight consecutive wins in Grand Slam tournaments. Meanwhile, Starodubtseva, seated at world No. 55, has turned her previous record of defeats against Top 10 players into a significant turning point in her career.
The upset carries broader implications, ensuring Aryna Sabalenka will retain her position as the world’s No. 1 ranked player following this event. Starodubtseva’s triumph follows a trend of strong performances from Ukrainian players in this year’s tournament, as demonstrated by Marta Kostyuk’s ongoing success. Kostyuk, the Madrid Open champion, also advanced after battling past American Katie Volynets in a tightly contested match.
Meanwhile, Elina Svitolina, the Rome champion, comfortably moved into the third round after defeating Spain’s Kaitlin Quevedo. Svitolina, a four-time French Open quarterfinalist, continues her impressive clay-court form, having won eight matches in a row.
Starodubtseva will face either Hailey Baptiste or Wang Xinyu in her pursuit of further advancement in the tournament. As this year’s French Open unfolds, the unpredictability of outcomes has captured the attention of fans and analysts alike, promising more excitement in the days to come.
