Kostyuk Powers Toward Top 10 After Intentional Reset
Marta Kostyuk arrives in Brisbane transformed, her offseason blending rest, reflection, and explosive training into a clear drive for the rankings elite—starting with a fresh matchup against Putintseva.
Marta Kostyuk uncoils her serve under Brisbane’s humid lights, the ball carrying extra sting from an offseason overhaul that sharpened her edges. At 23, the Ukrainian enters 2026 ranked No. 26, her 2025 a whirlwind of 22 tournaments that included Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers and finals, plus quarterfinals at three WTA 1000 events and a US Open fourth round. She slipped from an opening No. 18 to No. 36 in April before clawing back, but now a deliberate break and precision strength work fuel her boldest aim yet: cracking the Top 10 by year’s end.
This reset unfolded far from the baseline, starting in the Maldives—her happy place for recharging—followed by a pilgrimage to Medjugorje in Bosnia and Herzegovina. She returned to Ukraine amid its tensions, then headed to Dubai, where she adopted a second dog that demanded as much training as her own regimen. The extended pause, a team choice after her packed schedule, restored mental balance before she ramped up in the gym.
“It was a team decision,” the World No. 26 said before heading to Brisbane for her first tournament of the year. “We were like, ‘OK, we want some longevity, and we want me to be mentally healthy.'”
Recharging counters the tour’s grind
That mental focus arrives just in time for a season where rankings can swing wildly despite solid play, as Kostyuk learned in 2025. Her Australian swing sparks joy, from a girls’ singles title in Melbourne at 14—her Grand Slam debut—to 2024 quarterfinals at the Australian Open. A Ukrainian family she met years ago treats her like one of their own during the majors, turning the distance from home into familiar warmth.
Before Melbourne’s spotlight, she tunes up at WTA 500 events in Brisbane and Adelaide, where she reached quarterfinals in both 2023 and 2024. These hard courts suit her flat shots that skid low, demanding quick feet to redirect pace in crosscourt exchanges. Facing Yulia Putintseva in the second round—their first meeting—Kostyuk can test her upgrades against the Kazakh’s gritty slices and endless retrievals, probing with inside-out forehands to open the court.
The pressure builds early here, where outdoor bounce and heat force adjustments mid-rally, like slicing underspin to counter high-bouncing serves. Kostyuk’s excitement radiates as she travels to her favorite continent, feeling rested and sharp. This emotional lift, paired with adopted family support, sets her to channel homesickness into focused baseline pressure.
Explosive drills build lasting power
Back in training, Kostyuk and fitness coach Jolanta Rusin, in their third preseason together, targeted precision strength through explosive movements blending speed, endurance, and eccentric-isometric exercises. This isn’t about lifting heavy; it’s crafting her body to handle the load after two years of base-building, turning her into a quicker force on court. She notes it took time for her frame to adapt, preventing breakdowns like the wrist injury that sidelined her from Cincinnati last summer.
The team now knows her biomechanics inside out, using that insight to layer power while fortifying against the tour’s wear—crucial after she powered through a full 2025 schedule. On these medium-fast hard courts, expect her forehand topspin to dip heavier, pulling opponents wide for down-the-line backhand passes. Her 1–2 patterns off the serve could snap faster, jamming returners before they reset.
“it’s amazing to see how things come together and you become this incredibly fast human being,” she said. “Incredibly sharp and explosive. This process is incredible. And every time I go through it as an athlete, it’s just so mesmerizing to me.”
Early reps show her footwork exploding into position, vital for covering the court against counterpunchers like Putintseva. Isometric holds strengthen her core for those looping topspin rallies, while eccentric work aids deceleration after explosive sprints. This evolution promises gradual emergence, syncing with the season’s marathon to sustain deep runs without fading.
In Brisbane’s conditions, where wind can tug at flat trajectories, her improved endurance lets her vary tactics—mixing crosscourt depth with occasional net rushes. The wrist scare taught caution, but tailored sessions now mitigate risks, positioning her for the swing’s demands. As power surfaces, it could redefine her all-court game, turning defensive lobs into offensive threats under the crowd’s rising hum.
Top 10 goal anchors her direction
For her ninth WTA season, Kostyuk sets a concrete benchmark for the first time, past her career-high No. 16 from after Indian Wells semis and a Stuttgart final. She knows rankings stem from game development, not obsession, yet this target provides a north star amid the tour’s chaos. Without it, she says, it’s easy to drift in the endless matches and travel.
“I want to finish the year in the Top 10,” she says. “I’ve never set a goal like this before, a clear goal in my head. I still don’t think it’s the right thing to do, to focus on the rankings, because the most important thing is to develop yourself and your game. Then the rankings will just be a consequence of the work that you do.”
“But it’s something that I keep in my head. it’s still good to have something like this in your head, because it’s a direction that you want to go. Because if you don’t have a direction, you can get lost, you know?”
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Marta Kostyuk • Марта Костюк (@martakostyuk)
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Marta Kostyuk • Марта Костюк (@martakostyuk)
Beyond numbers, the Grand Slam dream lingers, but she prioritizes character over trophies—a daily team effort tougher than any three-setter. As a role model, especially for young Ukrainians through BJK Cup ties, she balances ambition with humanity. In Brisbane, that mindset meets the court, where her renewed explosiveness could pressure the hierarchy, one precise point at a time.
The opener against Putintseva tests it all: disrupting low slices with heavy balls, holding serve under early-season rust in the air. Success here builds momentum through Adelaide’s similar setup, priming her for Melbourne’s roar. With mental clarity and physical pop aligned, Kostyuk eyes not just a deep run, but a season where direction turns potential into sustained breakthroughs, redefining her place among the elite.
