Ukrainian tennis player makes it to her first quarter-finals in Australian Open

Marta Kostiuk defeated "neutral-flagged" Russian Maria Timofeeva in the last game, and was the first of three Ukrainian tennis players to reach the quarter-finals.

Kostiuk is the first female tennis player in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open 2024.

She is one of three Ukrainian players who have passed the opening four rounds at the Australian Open 2024 (along with Elina Svitolina and Diana Yastremska)

She repeated her record at the all-Grand Slam level with a victory over another neutral tennis player, Elina Avanesyan, whom she beat in a 3-set match.

As she reached the quarterfinals, Marta had the opportunity to update this record altogether. She had to defeat another neutral tennis player, Maria Timofeeva, the 170th ranked player in the world, which she did, defeating with 6-2, 6-1 win.

The tennis players spent 1 hour and 15 minutes on the court.

"Honestly, it means a lot. I probably still can't realize it. During the rain break, I told the coach that I didn't feel like I was playing in the fourth round. I didn't feel any pressure. It's great to play a match like this at Grand Slam – there will be more time to recover, more time to realize. 

It's a good match for me. I'm glad to finally play as aggressively as I want to – it wasn't so easy against my previous opponents. I am incredibly happy to be in the quarterfinals," Kostiuk said after the game.

The player will compete for a semifinals pass with the fourth-ranked player in the world and current US Open champion Cory Hauff. 

The Australian Open 2024 will run until January 27.