Marta Kostyuk stunned the tennis world by knocking out four-time champion Iga Swiatek at the 2026 French Open. Now, the Ukrainian star is opening up about the deeply personal decision to stop training with her mother in late 2022, a move that helped shape her current success.

This victory not only propelled Kostyuk into her first-ever Roland Garros quarterfinal but also highlighted her growth as an independent player navigating emotional challenges away from the family dynamic that had defined her early career.

After the match, the Ukrainian explained the difficult choice to distance herself from her mother's coaching. She described how, while loving, the relationship had become overwhelming for both of them on the court.

I stopped working with my mother at the end of 2022; I simply felt like this was it. It was bad for both of us; it was very hard, but it was something you need to distance yourself from…At that time, it was very, very difficult. It's like stepping into the unknown because you're moving away from something you've been doing with that person for 15 years…The important thing is that right now we're great. We've been great for a long time. In fact, we're so good that I went back to Ukraine and practiced with my mother for a few days. It wasn't easy, and it wasn't like something new. I felt like I had sudden memories, you know, from my previous life. I definitely hold the best memories of that time.

The 15th seed's red-hot form on clay this season made the win possible. However, her honest reflections show the mental work behind the breakthrough.

Marta Kostyuk burst onto the scene as a teenager with huge potential, often compared to other young stars in women's tennis. Her mother, a key figure from the beginning, guided her through the junior ranks and early pro years. That closeness brought success but also complications, as Kostyuk described the identity fusion that made every mistake feel personal.

The split in late 2022 came during a transitional phase. Many players face similar crossroads. Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, and even modern stars like Osaka have spoken about balancing family ties with professional growth. For Kostyuk, it meant rebuilding her support team and mindset from scratch.

By 2024, she started seeing consistent results. Her clay-court surge this season turned heads, with the Madrid title signaling she was ready for bigger stages. The French Open run validates that growth. She's now showing the kind of mental resilience that top players need, especially against elite competition like Swiatek.