Ukrainian tennis player Yuliya Starodubtseva has reached the third round of Roland Garros 2026, matching her best performance at the tournament and securing a significant victory for Ukraine.
In the 1/32 final match, Starodubtseva faced world number two Elena Rybakina. After losing the first set, she mounted a comeback to win the match in three sets, demonstrating resilience and skill.
This victory marks Starodubtseva’s first win against a top-10 ranked player in seven encounters. Furthermore, it is the highest-ranked victory for a Ukrainian female player in the history of Roland Garros. Previously, only two Ukrainian players had defeated top-5 opponents at this major event: Elina Svitolina and Kateryna Baindl.
Notable Ukrainian Victories at Roland Garros:
- Roland Garros 2026: Yuliya Starodubtseva vs. Elena Rybakina (WTA No. 2) — 2:1 (3:6, 6:1, 7:6(4))
- Roland Garros 2025: Elina Svitolina vs. Jasmine Paolini (WTA No. 4) — 2:1 (4:6, 7:6(6), 6:1)
- Roland Garros 2018: Kateryna Baindl vs. Jelena Ostapenko (WTA No. 5) — 2:0 (7:5, 6:3)
Additionally, Starodubtseva has become the first player in the Open Era to defeat a top-5 opponent at Roland Garros in a match that concluded with a tiebreak in the third set.
Following her victory, Starodubtseva expressed her emotions during a court-side interview, reflecting on her unexpected win against Rybakina. She discussed the pivotal moments of the final set, where she initially led 3-0 but allowed her opponent to rally.
“Honestly, it’s hard to describe. I’m just super happy. Elena is one of the best players, and I am incredibly proud of myself for achieving this. It was a tough third set, but I managed to pull through,” Starodubtseva said.
She acknowledged the challenge posed by Rybakina, stating, “I expected a comeback from someone like Elena. She is one of the top players, and you cannot think it will be easy. Even with a 3-0 lead, I had a feeling it might not be straightforward. In the end, that turned out to be true. But I am happy to be the winner.”
Starodubtseva also expressed gratitude to the French fans for their support during the match, saying, “The crowd was very, very kind to me. I truly felt their support and heard my name many times, which I greatly appreciate.”
Her next opponent will be China’s Wang Xiyu, who advanced after American player Hailey Baptiste sustained an injury during their match, requiring assistance off the court.
Yuliya Starodubtseva's victory over Elena Rybakina in the second round of Roland Garros 2026 marks a significant achievement for Ukrainian tennis. This win not only matches her best performance at the tournament but also sets a record for the highest-ranked victory by a Ukrainian female player.