Marta Kostyuk Makes Ukrainian Tennis History at US Open 2025

After a milestone 50th Grand Slam main-draw match, Marta Kostyuk advances to Round 2—becoming the only Ukrainian player to do so this year.

Arun UpadhayayAugust 28, 2025

10,691 3 minutes read

New York, August 28 EST: The night session at Flushing Meadows always belongs to the giants. Novak Djokovic, with his routine march into the third round, did his part. But while the crowd drifted toward Ashe and the big names, there was a smaller court where something more important happened. Marta Kostyuk beat Katie Boulter in straight sets, and in doing so became the only Ukrainian still alive at this year’s US Open.

A Fighter Standing Alone

It is not the prettiest stat line you will ever read, but the context makes it thunder. Ukraine sent a handful of players to New York. One by one, they all dropped. Except her. For a nation fighting to keep its place in the world, this kind of representation matters. And for Kostyuk, the win was not just survival. It marked her 50th Grand Slam main-draw match. Only four other Ukrainian women in history have played that many.

Fifty might look like just a round number on paper, but anyone who has lived on tour knows it is a marker of scars. It is hotels and airports, losses in the dark, wins no one writes about, and the endless grind of trying to stay relevant. Kostyuk has done more than stay relevant. Her win rate across those matches is one of the best of any Ukrainian player.

The Draw Gives Her A Chance

Her reward is Zeynep Sonmez, ranked 81 in the world, a player who can swing freely but does not have Kostyuk’s weight of experience. This is the kind of match that can swing either way if the favorite gets nervous. Kostyuk is not immune to nerves, but she is learning how to carry them. That is what her win over Boulter looked like a player who has been here often enough to know when to hold steady.

Djokovic Got the Headline, Kostyuk Got the Moment

Djokovic brushed past Zachary Svajda earlier in the evening. Routine. Four sets, no panic. The crowd applauded, but there was no drama. The drama was on the outer courts, where Kostyuk played with edge and purpose. The global press may not lead with her name tomorrow, but among those who watched, her win was the one that stayed with you walking back to the subway.

Navratilova Stirs the Wrong Conversation

The night should have been all about Kostyuk’s grit. Instead, part of the chatter turned sour. Martina Navratilova, a legend with nothing left to prove, decided to throw out a line about Katie Boulter that stunned almost everyone listening. She said Boulter should “get married, have babies, and be done with it.”

It was the kind of comment that belongs to another century. And it landed badly. Fans lit up social media, commentators shook their heads, and the tone of the evening shifted. At a time when Kostyuk was showing why women’s careers are marathons, not sprints, Navratilova was reducing one to a family plan.

Why This Matters

Strip away the noise, and what you have is a 23-year-old player who just carried her country into the second round of a Grand Slam. She has put together a body of work that proves she belongs at this level. She is not just “still here.” She is thriving, building something, refusing to fade.

If she beats Sonmez, the run suddenly becomes real. Third round at the US Open, the last Ukrainian standing, and a player stepping into her prime. The crowd will come. They always do when a fighter keeps showing up with something bigger than herself on the line.

For now, it is enough to say this Marta Kostyuk’s win mattered. It mattered for her career. It mattered for her country. And it mattered for the Open, which always finds a way to make space for stories like hers.

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Arun Upadhayay

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A former college-level cricketer and lifelong sports enthusiast, Arun Upadhayay brings the heart of an athlete to the sharp eye of a journalist. With firsthand experience in competitive sports and a deep understanding of team dynamics, Arun covers everything from grassroots tournaments to high-stakes international showdowns. His reporting blends field-level grit with analytical precision, making him a trusted voice for sports fans across New Jersey and beyond.

Marta Kostyuk Makes Ukrainian Tennis History at US Open 2025