Ukrainian player Yuliia Starodubtseva defeats world number two Elena Rybakina in the French Open second round, handing the Kazakh a shock early exit. The match is played at Roland Garros under hot conditions, and Rybakina starts strongly, holding a one-set lead before her form drops in the decisive stages. Starodubtseva levels the match by winning the second set 6-1 after Rybakina’s lead slips.
In the third set, the contest tightens and both players trade key moments, with Starodubtseva eventually prevailing in a tiebreak. She wins the final set 7-6 (4), completing a 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (4) victory. The win is described as a major breakthrough for Starodubtseva, who records her first victory over a top-10 opponent. After the match, she expresses pride in the result and says she is pleased with her performance, including managing the challenging third set.
