Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk captured the biggest title of her career on Saturday, defeating Russia’s Mirra Andreeva 6-3, 7-5 to win the Madrid WTA 1000.
The victory gave Kostyuk her first WTA 1000 title and continued a remarkable clay-court run for the Ukrainian, who remains unbeaten on the surface this season. She has now won 11 straight clay matches and two titles, following her triumph at the WTA 250 event in Rouen.
Kostyuk, who also defeated world No. 5 Jessica Pegula on her way to the Madrid final, will rise to No. 15 in the WTA rankings on Monday.
“It feels really good to be here,” Kostyuk said after the match. “I have been doing well over the past few years, so I feel proud of myself and my team.”
Andreeva, ranked No. 8 in the world, had entered the final as one of the main contenders for the title after several top players fell earlier in the tournament. Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka was eliminated in the quarterfinals, while Elena Rybakina and Coco Gauff went out in the round of 16.
“I would like to congratulate Marta for how your clay-court season is going so far,” Andreeva said. “You have won two tournaments in a row, so you are playing very well. Congratulations also for today’s victory.”
Kostyuk took control of the opening set with aggressive serving and steady pressure from the baseline. The key moment came in the sixth game, when she broke Andreeva with a crosscourt forehand to move ahead 4-2. She consolidated the break and then held off a late push from Andreeva, who failed to convert two break points in the ninth game.
The second set was tighter. The players exchanged early breaks, and Andreeva raised her level as she tried to force a deciding set. Leading 5-4, the Russian had two break points, but Kostyuk escaped danger and leveled the score.
That missed opportunity proved costly. In the next game, Andreeva committed a double fault and opened the door for Kostyuk, who broke serve before closing out the match.
After converting match point, Kostyuk celebrated with a backflip on the clay at the Caja Mágica.
The match ended without a handshake at the net. Kostyuk has declined to shake hands with Russian and Belarusian opponents since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. She also did not shake hands with Russia’s Anastasia Potapova after their semifinal match.
Kostyuk succeeds Sabalenka as Madrid champion and leaves Spain with the strongest statement of her career so far: a first WTA 1000 title, a career rise in the rankings and an unbeaten clay-court season still intact.
