Yuliia Starodubtseva's Run at the 2026 French Open Comes to an End
Ukraine's Yuliia Starodubtseva saw her journey at the 2026 French Open end in the third round, losing to China's Wang Xiyu with a score of 6:3, 7:5. Despite a strong start in the first set, where she raced to a 3-0 lead with two breaks, Starodubtseva could not hold onto her advantage. In the second set, she again led 4-2 but ultimately lost both the set and the match.
This tournament marks a historic milestone for Ukrainian tennis, as four Ukrainian women advanced to the round of 32 at Roland Garros for the first time ever. Alongside Starodubtseva, the following players reached this stage:
- Elina Svitolina
- Marta Kostyuk
- Oleksandra Oliynykova
Previously, Ukraine's best showing at this event was in 2025, when three players—Elina Svitolina, Yuliia Starodubtseva, and Dayana Yastremska—made it to the same round.
Ukrainian Tennis on the Rise
Starodubtseva, who has now reached the third round of Roland Garros for two consecutive seasons, defeated Russia's Anna Blinkova in the first round and pulled off an upset against world No. 2 Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in the second round. On May 29, 2026, in Paris, Elina Svitolina will play her third-round match, keeping Ukraine's hopes alive in the tournament.
The performances of Ukrainian female tennis players at this year's French Open highlight the growing strength of national tennis, especially the increasing number of athletes achieving notable results on the global stage. The fact that four Ukrainians reached the round of 16 reflects rising competitiveness and improved preparation in Ukrainian tennis. Upcoming matches, particularly Svitolina's clash, could further boost attention on Ukrainian players at this prestigious event.
As Ukrainian tennis continues to gain momentum on the international stage, the impressive performances of players like Starodubtseva are a testament to this progress. To learn more about how five of Ukraine's female tennis players made history at this year's French Open, check out this detailed report on their remarkable achievements here.