Why Millions Are Hooked on Beautiful Tennis Star Marta Kostyuk?

Marta Kostyuk was just five years old when she stepped onto a tennis court for the first time, chasing a chance to spend more time with her mom. Twenty years later, she’s a Grand Slam semifinalist, a WTA 1000 champion, and one of the most outspoken voices for her country on the world stage. Her story is one of talent, family, and an unshakable refusal to stay quiet while Ukraine is at war.

Slide through to see 12 stunning shots tracking her spectacular rise, her elite athletic physique, and the court milestones that made her a global icon.

Marta Kostyuk

Ukrainian National Team 🎾 WTA World Elite

Country 🇺🇦 Ukraine

Height 1.75 m (5’9”)

Born June 28, 2002 (Kyiv, Ukraine)

Sport Tennis (WTA Singles & Doubles)

🏆 Ranked in our Top 20 Most Beautiful & Influential Female Athletes of 2026 →

Who Is Marta Kostyuk

Marta Kostyuk was born on June 28, 2002, in Kyiv, Ukraine. From the very start, tennis was the family business, not just a hobby. By the time most kids are learning to ride a bike, she was already on court most days of the week. Few people watching her back then could have guessed how far that little girl from Kyiv would go.

A Family Built on Tennis

Her mother, Talina Beiko, played professionally and became Marta’s very first coach. Her father, Oleh Kostyuk, worked as technical director of a junior tournament in Kyiv. She grew up with sisters who also played, meaning tennis was always the main topic at family dinners. Marta has said her real motivation as a child wasn’t just winning, but simply wanting to spend time with her mom on the court.

A Junior Champion at 14

In 2017, Marta won the Australian Open girls’ singles title, becoming the first Ukrainian to do it. She was only 14, beating the top seed in a tight three-setter on Rod Laver Arena. That win put her on the radar of the entire tennis world almost overnight. Looking back, it’s clear that result wasn’t a fluke; it was a preview.

A Teenager With a Microphone, and a Message

At just 13 years old, before most of her big tennis wins, Marta stood up in the Ukrainian Parliament and spoke about the need for better conditions for young athletes. It was a moment that stuck with her, and one she’s pointed back to as the start of understanding how much her voice could matter. Years later, that same willingness to speak up would define her on a much bigger stage.

Climbing to World No. 12

Marta’s rise wasn’t an overnight thing; it was built match by match, year by year. In June 2026, she reached a career-high ranking of No. 12 in the world. For a player who turned pro as a teenager, this was the payoff for nearly a decade of grinding through tour life. It is the kind of number that requires a level of patience most people don’t see from the outside.

Love on Her Own Terms

In November 2023, Marta married George Kyzymenko in a ceremony in Cyprus. The two actually grew up training at the same tennis club in Kyiv as children before crossing paths again as adults. She keeps her personal life fairly private, letting her tennis and her advocacy take center stage instead.

Her Biggest Title Yet

In May 2026, Marta captured her first WTA 1000 title at the Madrid Open. Titles at this level are a different animal entirely, requiring victory over the world’s best players throughout a grueling week. It was the clearest sign yet that her career had hit a new gear, launching an incredible run of form that continued through the summer.

Speaking Up When It Mattered Most

During the 2026 French Open, after winning her first-round match, Marta gave an emotional on-court interview. She revealed that a Russian missile had struck just 100 meters from her parents’ home in Kyiv that same morning. In that moment, the war stopped being background noise and became the story itself, live on one of tennis’s biggest stages.

Building Something Bigger Than Herself

Marta created a charitable foundation dedicated to supporting youth tennis in Ukraine, even while the country deals with the ongoing war. She works directly with government ministries and tennis federations to make it a tangible resource, not just a name on a website. It is the kind of project that demands time and energy most professional athletes simply don’t have—but for her, it clearly matters more than rest days.

A Run for the History Books

At the 2026 French Open, Marta reached her first career Grand Slam semifinal. A major highlight of that run was her clinical fourth-round victory over third-seed Iga Świątek, a result that sent shockwaves through the tournament. It was a career-defining fortnight that changed the conversation around her potential, delivering the kind of deep run players dream of for years.

The Backflip Champion

After winning the Madrid Open—her first-ever WTA 1000 title—Marta celebrated with a perfectly executed backflip right on the court. She later revealed she had only practiced the move once, just the day before the final. It’s a moment that highlights the fearless, fun-loving energy she brings to the tour, proving that even with intense competitive focus, she never loses the joy of the game.

The 2026 Breakout Season

The 2026 season has been the best of Marta’s career by far. In the span of just a few months, she captured her maiden WTA 1000 title in Madrid, climbed to a career-high ranking of No. 12, and reached her first career Grand Slam semifinal at the French Open. It is the kind of historic stretch most players wait their entire careers to experience—for Marta, it has all landed in a remarkable, explosive run.

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▶ VIDEO ZONE

A Day in the Life with Marta Kostyuk | WTA

Go completely behind the scenes with tennis star Marta Kostyuk at Indian Wells 2026. Watch her step off the court for stunning high-fashion photoshoots, power through elite practice sessions, and share an exclusive look into her daily pro-athlete lifestyle.