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Marta Kostyuk beats Mirra Andreeva to win Madrid Open, her first WTA 1000 title

The Ukrainian world No. 23 triumphed 6-3, 7-5 in the Spanish capital, becoming only the second player outside the top 20 to win the event.

5 min
Marta Kostyuk beats Mirra Andreeva to win Madrid Open, her first WTA 1000 title
The Ukrainian world No. 23 triumphed 6-3, 7-5 in the Spanish capital, becoming only the second player outside the top 20Credit · Dawn

Key facts

  • Marta Kostyuk defeated Mirra Andreeva 6-3, 7-5 in the Madrid Open final.
  • Kostyuk is the 26th seed and world No. 23; Andreeva is the ninth seed and world No. 8.
  • This is Kostyuk's first WTA 1000 title and her third career WTA title.
  • Kostyuk won the Rouen Open on clay two weeks prior, her second title of the 2026 season.
  • Andreeva suffered her first loss in three WTA 1000 finals.
  • Kostyuk is the first player to win 12+ consecutive clay matches in a season since Iga Swiatek in 2024.
  • In the men's doubles final, Henry Patten and Harri Helioevaara beat Manuel Guinard and Guido Andreozzi 6-3, 3-6, 10-7.

A breakthrough in Madrid

Marta Kostyuk captured the biggest title of her career on Sunday, defeating Mirra Andreeva in straight sets to win the Madrid Open. The 23-year-old Ukrainian prevailed 6-3, 7-5 in her first final at the WTA 1000 level, a milestone that vaults her into the upper echelon of the women's game. Kostyuk, the world No. 23, became only the second player outside the top 20 to win the Madrid Open, a tournament that has traditionally been dominated by the elite. Her victory was built on relentless consistency and tactical discipline, qualities she has honed over years of grinding on the tour.

How the final unfolded

The match began with Kostyuk seizing control early, breaking Andreeva's serve to take a 4-2 lead in the opening set. She double-faulted on her first set point but converted the second when Andreeva sent a forehand long. In the second set, Kostyuk broke immediately, only for the 19-year-old Russian to break back. The pair exchanged breaks in the fourth and fifth games, keeping the set on serve until a pivotal moment at 5-5. Andreeva, who had saved two set points in the previous game, double-faulted to hand Kostyuk a 6-5 lead. Serving for the championship, Kostyuk set up three match points; she lost the first two but sealed victory when Andreeva's return sailed long. It was Andreeva's first defeat in three WTA 1000 finals, a testament to Kostyuk's composure under pressure.

Kostyuk's clay-court dominance

The Madrid title is Kostyuk's third WTA trophy and her second of the 2026 season, following her triumph at the Rouen Open two weeks ago. That victory, also on clay, launched an extraordinary winning streak. Including the Billie Jean King Cup, Kostyuk has now won her first 12 or more matches on clay in a single season, a feat not achieved since Iga Swiatek won 23 consecutive clay matches between Madrid and the Olympics in 2024. Kostyuk's run in Madrid was marked by her ability to absorb pace and construct points methodically. She dropped only one set en route to the final, defeating three seeded players along the way. Her consistency has been the hallmark of her resurgence, as she herself acknowledged after the match.

A statement of resilience

"It feels unbelievable to stand here right now," Kostyuk said after the match. "It took me many years to reach this point and the one word I think about right now is consistency — showing up every day no matter how hard it is, no matter how much you love or hate what you do." She credited her team for supporting her through the ups and downs of a career that has seen her rise from a junior prodigy to a top-30 mainstay. Kostyuk's journey has been shaped by her Ukrainian identity, a source of strength and motivation. She has often spoken about playing for her country amid the ongoing war, and her recent success has resonated deeply with fans back home. Her victory in Madrid is not just a personal milestone but a symbol of resilience.

Andreeva's learning curve

For Mirra Andreeva, the defeat was a rare setback in a career that has been defined by precocious success. The 19-year-old Russian, ranked No. 8, had won her previous two WTA 1000 finals and was bidding for her third title at that level. Her aggressive baseline game troubled Kostyuk at times, but inconsistency on serve proved costly — she double-faulted at critical moments, including the one that gave Kostyuk the decisive break. Andreeva's camp will take solace in her overall trajectory; she remains one of the youngest players in the top 10 and has ample time to add to her collection. The Madrid final, however, exposed areas for growth, particularly in managing pressure during tight moments.

Men's doubles and wider context

In the men's doubles final, Great Britain's Henry Patten and his Finnish partner Harri Helioevaara defeated the unseeded French-Argentine duo of Manuel Guinard and Guido Andreozzi 6-3, 3-6, 10-7. The third seeds, who have won two Grand Slam titles together, overcame a second-set stumble to prevail in a match tiebreak. The Madrid Open, held at the Caja Mágica, has long been a staple of the clay-court season, serving as a key preparation for the French Open. Kostyuk's victory adds a new narrative to the women's draw, which has been dominated by Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka in recent years. With Swiatek's clay-court supremacy challenged, the path to Roland Garros appears more open than it has been in years.

What lies ahead

Kostyuk's immediate schedule includes the Italian Open in Rome, where she will look to extend her winning streak. However, she and fellow Briton Emma Raducanu have already withdrawn from the tournament, citing the need to manage their workloads after deep runs in Madrid. The decision underscores the physical toll of the clay-court swing, as players balance ambition with recovery. Looking ahead, Kostyuk's name will be mentioned among the contenders for the French Open, which begins later this month. Her recent form — 12 consecutive clay wins, two titles in three weeks — suggests she has the game and the mental fortitude to make a deep run at Roland Garros. For a player who has long been seen as a talent waiting to break through, the breakthrough has finally arrived.

The bottom line

  • Marta Kostyuk won her first WTA 1000 title at the Madrid Open, defeating Mirra Andreeva 6-3, 7-5.
  • Kostyuk is only the second player outside the top 20 to win the Madrid Open.
  • She has won 12 consecutive clay matches this season, the longest such streak since Iga Swiatek in 2024.
  • Andreeva suffered her first loss in three WTA 1000 finals, double-faulting at a crucial moment.
  • Kostyuk's victory positions her as a serious contender for the French Open.
  • Kostyuk and Emma Raducanu have withdrawn from the Italian Open to rest.
Galerie
Marta Kostyuk beats Mirra Andreeva to win Madrid Open, her first WTA 1000 title — image 1Marta Kostyuk beats Mirra Andreeva to win Madrid Open, her first WTA 1000 title — image 2Marta Kostyuk beats Mirra Andreeva to win Madrid Open, her first WTA 1000 title — image 3Marta Kostyuk beats Mirra Andreeva to win Madrid Open, her first WTA 1000 title — image 4Marta Kostyuk beats Mirra Andreeva to win Madrid Open, her first WTA 1000 title — image 5Marta Kostyuk beats Mirra Andreeva to win Madrid Open, her first WTA 1000 title — image 6
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