Kostyuk’s birthday bump for Swiatek

An elated Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine after beating Poland’s Iga Swiatek in the fourth round of the French Open on Sunday; (right) A dejected Iga Swiatek after her loss to Marta Kostyuk. Pics/AFP

There will be a first-time women's champion at Roland-Garros this year, and the odds are stacked in Marta Kostyuk's favour.

Undefeated this season on clay, the 15th-seeded Ukrainian player reached the quarter-finals at the French Open for the first time on Sunday by taking out four-time champion Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-1 and ruining her birthday.

None of the players still in the draw have yet lifted the trophy in Paris following Swiatek and Coco Gauff's exit.

Kostyuk had lost her three previous matches against the third-seeded Swiatek, who turned 25 on Sunday.

"I'm still in shock. To beat such an unbelievable player who won four times here [is incredible]. I had lost [three] times to her before this and had never taken a set off her, so it's incredible," said Kostyuk.

Meanwhile, seventh-seeded Elina Svitolina of Ukraine bounced back from a set down to beat 11th-seeded Belinda Bencic of Switzerland 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

One
No. of times Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk has made it to the French Open quarter-finals

Seven
No. of years since Iga Swiatek last exited the French Open before the quarter-final stage

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