Iga Swiatek, the four-time French Open champion, exited Roland Garros on Sunday after falling to Marta Kostyuk 7-5, 6-1 in the second week. The Polish third seed's loss on her 25th birthday continued a pattern of top-seeded upsets at the tournament.
Why Swiatek's exit matters
Swiatek's dominance on clay has eroded since her last French Open title in 2024. After winning the tournament in her second appearance in 2020, she had never gone more than two years without claiming the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen, but Aryna Sabalenka ended her bid for a fourth consecutive title in last year's semifinals. Since that 2024 victory, Swiatek has won only three titles across two seasons, signalling a shift in her clay-court standing.
How the match unfolded
Swiatek broke Kostyuk early to lead 4-3 in the first set but lost her serving rhythm as the Ukrainian fought back to claim the opener and then dominated the second frame. Swiatek acknowledged the mental toll, saying she felt tense and off-balance throughout the match, with her serve deserting her at crucial moments.
Kostyuk's breakthrough run
Kostyuk reached her first Roland Garros quarterfinal after a strong clay-court season that included winning the Madrid Open, a WTA 1000 event, and claiming the 250-level title in Rouen. She will face fellow Ukrainian Elina Svitolina in the last eight after Svitolina defeated Swiss 11th seed Belinda Bencic 4-6, 6-4, 6-0.
Zverev advanced to the quarterfinals with a 7-6(7), 6-4, 6-1 victory over Jesper de Jong.
Sources
- Philstar.com: Swiatek exits French Open; Zverev eases into quarters. Published 2026-06-01.
- INQUIRER.net: Iga Swiatek exits French Open, Zverev eases into quarters. Published 2026-06-01.
- Free Malaysia Today: Swiatek exits French Open, Zverev eases into quarters. Published 2026-06-01.
Reported from public sources.