Marta Kostyuk's incredible run of form has hit an unexpected pause. Just days after securing the biggest title of her career at the Madrid Open, the Ukrainian star has been forced to withdraw from the Italian Open in Rome, bringing her hopes of back-to-back WTA 1000 titles to a heartbreaking halt.
Kostyuk captured her first WTA 1000 crown in spectacular fashion, defeating Mirra Andreeva in the Madrid final. She later described the victory as a "dream come true" in an emotional Instagram post. But the joy was short-lived, as she announced her withdrawal from Rome before stepping onto the court.
"This one hurts," Kostyuk wrote to her followers. "After the best stretch of my career, I was looking forward to Rome. But sometimes your body has other plans, and over the past few days I've been dealing with a hip issue. With my ankle still not fully at 100 per cent, it's just not smart to keep pushing right now, so I won't be competing there this year."
The 22-year-old expressed particular disappointment about missing the tournament, calling Rome "such a special place." She added: "The fans, the atmosphere, and yes… the food. I've had some amazing moments here, and I always love coming back. I'm sad to miss it, but I'll see you next year. Now it's time to recover and get ready for Paris."
Kostyuk's focus now shifts to the French Open at Roland Garros, which runs from May 24 to June 7. She had also mentioned the Strasbourg Open (May 17-23) as part of her plans during her post-Madrid press conference, though her availability there remains uncertain given the injury concerns.
Last year, Kostyuk enjoyed a strong run at the Italian Open, reaching the fourth round with wins over Alexandra Eala, Daria Kasatkina, and Leylah Fernandez before falling to top seed Aryna Sabalenka in a tight 1-6, 6-7 loss. That performance earned her 215 ranking points, which will now drop from her total. Still, she remains ahead of Naomi Osaka in the WTA rankings for now.
For tennis fans watching Kostyuk's rise, this setback is a reminder of the physical toll the tour demands. But if her Madrid triumph showed anything, it's that she has the resilience to bounce back stronger. As she focuses on recovery and prepares for the clay-court season's biggest prize, all eyes will be on Paris to see if she can carry that Madrid magic to Roland Garros.