Only Ukrainian to move on: Kostyuk wins first round at US Open 2025

Only Ukrainian in the second round

For Marta Kostyuk, the start in New York was especially important after she was forced to withdraw from the Cincinnati tournament, where she ended her run in the third round due to a wrist problem.

Despite concerns, the Ukrainian managed to step onto the court and proved her high level of play.

The 2025 US Open has become the seventh in her career for the No. 27 seed. Kostyuk made her debut at this tournament back in 2018, with her best results being third-round finishes in 2020 and 2024.

This time, she has taken the first step toward surpassing her previous achievements.

Head-to-head background

Kostyuk’s opponent in the opening match was Katie Boulter, who is currently ranked 48th in the WTA world rankings.

Before their clash, the head-to-head record was not in the Ukrainian’s favor.

The last time the two players met was in the final of the San Diego tournament in 2024, where Boulter claimed victory in three sets.

How the match unfolded

Right from the start, Kostyuk took the initiative. She broke serve in the third game and confidently held her advantage. Although Boulter tried to fight back, Marta played with greater composure and closed out the set 6:4.

The second set began with an exchange of breaks, but soon the Ukrainian managed to secure another break and moved ahead.

The key moment came in the ninth game, where Kostyuk had five match points, but the Brit heroically saved them. Still, in the following game, Marta did not allow her opponent to stage a comeback.

After fending off three break points, she held her serve and sealed the victory — 6:4.

Earlier, we reported that US Open broadcasts in Ukraine will, for the first time, be available with Ukrainian audio commentary.

You can also read about how the positions of Ukrainian tennis players in the WTA rankings changed ahead of the US Open.