Marta Kostyuk has undergone a remarkable transformation in Madrid, turning past struggles into a stunning title run that has the tennis world buzzing.

Just two years ago, Kostyuk couldn't find her footing on Madrid's tricky clay courts, losing in the first round. Fast forward to this year's tournament, and the Ukrainian star not only conquered the conditions but also toppled some of the biggest names in women's tennis along the way.

Her path to glory was nothing short of spectacular. After powering through early rounds against Sorana Cirstea and Daria Kasatkina, Kostyuk dispatched Beatriz Haddad Maia in straight sets before facing a brutal quarterfinal showdown with Elena Rybakina. She then delivered a career-defining performance against Coco Gauff in the semifinals, calling both victories among the biggest highlights of her career.

So what changed? According to Kostyuk, it was a shift in perspective sparked by an unexpected challenge. "When Sandra told me today, she was like, you know, when we came here our first time being at this tournament was two years ago, and I lost first round," Kostyuk shared with reporters. "And she was like, I don't understand why she doesn't like to play here, the conditions suit her game really well. And I never saw it that way."

Last year's abdominal injury before Stuttgart forced her to adjust her approach. "I think being a little bit injured just gave me a different perspective on the game here or, you know, what I should do here. And it was working out really well," she explained. "I had an unbelievable quarterfinal match last year. And, you know, this year it was even better."

The victory catapulted Kostyuk from world No. 23 to No. 15, but she's keeping her focus on the bigger picture. "I don't focus on the rankings," she said. "My goal, not even my goal, but I would be very happy if I finished clay court season in top 20. I didn't think about a specific number or anything. I just wanted to be as consistent as possible."

For Kostyuk, the rankings are simply a reflection of hard work on the court. "Probably I'll get a bit better draws, but at the end, all the players are super solid and really good. So I don't focus on that. As I said, I just want to keep working."

With this newfound confidence and a bold new approach to the Madrid clay, Kostyuk has proven that sometimes the biggest breakthroughs come from changing how you see the game.