Elena Rybakina’s bid for a calendar Grand Slam ended in a stunning second-round upset at Roland Garros, where Yulia Starodubtseva defeated the world No. 2, 3-6, 6-1, 7-6(10-4), for the biggest win of her career. In searing conditions on Court Suzanne Lenglen, Starodubtseva held her composure while Rybakina struggled with timing, control, and a flood of unforced errors. Rybakina finished with 71 unforced errors, nearly double Starodubtseva’s 36, and repeatedly missed forehands in the decisive tiebreaker. The loss also guarantees Aryna Sabalenka will remain world No. 1 after Roland Garros, extending her run at the top of the rankings.
Rybakina, the second seed and reigning Australian Open champion, said she had felt good in practice before the tournament but was unable to raise her level in the match. She described the performance as poor and said the hot, windy conditions made the ball difficult to control. After Rybakina rallied from a double-break deficit to lead 6-5 in the final set, Starodubtseva steadied herself, forced a tiebreaker, and then dominated the closing points with heavier topspin and more patience from the baseline. The Ukrainian finished the match in two hours and 28 minutes, converting her second match point with Rybakina sending a forehand wide.
The result ended Rybakina’s eight-match major winning streak and marked her first French Open second-round exit since 2020. Starodubtseva, ranked No. 55, had entered the match without a win in six previous meetings against Top 10 opponents. She said the conditions suited her more spin-heavy game and helped her keep Rybakina on the defensive.
The upset came amid a strong showing by Ukrainian women in Paris. Earlier in the day, Marta Kostyuk rallied past American Katie Volynets to extend her clay-court record in 2026 to 13-0, while Elina Svitolina continued her strong run with a straight-sets win over Kaitlin Quevedo. Starodubtseva praised the success of Ukrainian players on the WTA Tour, calling it inspiring to see so many compatriots advancing and winning titles.
Svitolina, a four-time Roland Garros quarterfinalist, said she sees her success as a way to motivate the next generation in Ukraine. She emphasized the importance of focusing on what she can control and using sport to help her country. Svitolina will face Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch in the third round, while Starodubtseva will meet either Hailey Baptiste or Wang Xinyu for a place in the round of 16.
