Marta Kostyuk is the WTA World #23, a Ukrainian player born in Kyiv who became the youngest player to win a main-draw match at the Australian Open since Martina Hingis in 1997 when she did so in 2018 at the age of 15. That debut at Melbourne Park announced a talent of exceptional quality and composure, and she has spent the years since fulfilling the promise of that extraordinary introduction to Grand Slam tennis. Her current ranking inside the top 25 represents the natural development of a player who was always going to reach this level: the question was always when, not if.
Kostyuk’s game is technically refined, built on a clean, fluid ball-striking style that generates pace without the over-muscled aggression of some of her contemporaries. She is a natural, elegant mover who reads the ball well and sets up her shots from a comfortable position. Her backhand is particularly smooth and reliable, and she can redirect pace with it while also generating her own power from neutral situations. Her ability to play freely and with confidence under pressure, demonstrated so vividly at 15 years old on Rod Laver Arena, remains a defining characteristic of her tennis.
Beyond her on-court achievements, Kostyuk has become one of the most prominent voices on the WTA Tour speaking about the war in Ukraine. She has consistently and publicly refused to shake hands with Russian and Belarusian opponents at the net, a stance she has explained in clear, measured terms: she will not perform social gestures of normalcy while her country is at war and her people are suffering. This position has generated debate and criticism from some quarters, but she has maintained it without wavering, speaking about it with a directness that commands respect regardless of one’s view of the sporting politics involved.
Kyiv is her home and her identity, and she carries both with her across every tournament she enters. The Ukrainian tennis federation, the Ukrainian flag on her kit, and the words she speaks in press conferences all reflect a player who understands that her platform extends beyond tennis results. She has handled this responsibility with a seriousness that, combined with her actual tennis ability, makes her one of the more complete and compelling figures on the women’s tour.
Kostyuk will compete at the 2026 Grand Slams: the Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open. Check Ukraine time for match schedules in her home timezone.