Marta Kostyuk’s Achievements as Teenager No Longer Have Weight on Her: “Was Almost Like a Curse”

Marta Kostyuk improved her head-to-head record over Mirra Andreeva to 2-0.

Marta Kostyuk’s Achievements as Teenager No Longer Have Weight on Her: “Was Almost Like a Curse”

Marta Kostyuk (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

In Short
  • Marta Kostyuk won her first WTA 1000 title at the Madrid Open, defeating Mirra Andreeva.
  • She is now on an 11-match winning streak on clay and reached a career-high ranking of No. 15.
  • Kostyuk became the first Ukrainian player to win the Madrid Open and the seventh player born in the 2000s to win a WTA 1000 singles title.

Marta Kostyuk is finally a WTA 1000 champion. On Saturday (May 2), she defeated Mirra Andreeva 6-3, 7-5 in 1 hour and 21 minutes in the Madrid Open final.

It was her first singles title above the WTA 250 level, and it was also the first time she lifted back-to-back titles following her victory in Rouen over countrywoman Veronika Podrez. The win helped her improve her win-loss record this season to 17-4, with three of these defeats she registered against World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka and World No.2 Elena Rybakina.

At the press conference after her win, Kostyuk was asked about what her journey has been like since her breakthrough at the age of 15, when she became the youngest player to win a main-draw match since 1996. Kostyuk said she had to free herself from the weight of expectations.

I think in the beginning of this year I told my team that I finally feel that the achievements that I had when I was 15 years old are not, it doesn’t have a weight on me anymore. Because I was living for many years in that state of everyone expecting big results from me. Like, almost winning, you know, having such good results being so young was almost like a curse.

Thanks to her back-to-back titles, she is now on an 11-match winning streak on clay this season. Her victory helped her reach her career-best No.15 on the rankings table.

I think when I freed myself from that, actually, it’s incredible. I’m very proud of myself that I managed to achieve all of that when I was 14 and 15 years old. It definitely gave me just the freedom to enjoy this sport and just play it.

Marta Kostyuk added

Kostyuk became the first player from Ukraine to win the Madrid Open and also the seventh player born in the 2000s to win a WTA 1000 singles title, following Bianca Andreescu, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Mirra Andreeva, Amanda Anisimova, and Victoria Mboko.

Mirra Andreeva breaks down in tears after her defeat to Marta Kostyuk

Mirra Andreeva is the first teenager to play three WTA 1000 finals. She was chasing her third title in this category after her wins in Dubai over Clara Tauson and in Indian Wells over Aryna Sabalenka last year. As Marta Kostyuk dashed her hope of a third Big Title, Andreeva struggled to control her tears during the runner-up speech.

Mirra Andreeva
Mirra Andreeva (Image via X/WTA a la UNE)

Thanks to my team for always being there for me. I’m sorry. I promised myself I’m not gonna cry. I’m sorry. I’m just not gonna look at you because it’s easier like this. Thanks to my team for always being there for me and supporting me at all times, when it’s easy and when it’s hard. I know it’s sometimes maybe not easy to work with me. But I really appreciate all your support and everything you do for me.

Mirra Andreeva said

The next event is the Italian Open, where Jasmine Paolini will enter as the defending champion. She defeated Coco Gauff last year.

Andreeva produced her best performance in the tournament when she reached the quarterfinals last year, losing the match to Gauff. Kostyuk has yet to progress to the quarterfinals, with her best performance being a fourth-round appearance last year (lost to Sabalenka).

Before the Madrid Open, Andreeva had lifted two titles. After her victory over Victoria Mboko in the Adelaide International final, Andreeva beat Anastasia Potapova in the Linz Open final. Kostyuk also played her third final of the season in Madrid. Before her wins in Madrid and Rouen, she lost the Brisbane International to Sabalenka.

Also read: Jannik Sinner Downplays Comparison with Carlos Alcaraz on Clay After Securing Madrid Final Slot