Ukrainian draws on belief of having qualified for all four majors in 2024
©Julien Crosnier / FFTYuliia Starodubtseva holds the rare distinction of being the only woman in the Open Era to qualify for four majors in the same season – a calendar Grand Slam of qualifying so to speak.
It came last year – an accomplishment the Ukrainian wished wasn’t necessary had her ranking snuck up enough during the season to avoid the qualifying rounds.
Still, it built a degree of self-belief, which she was able to draw on as she returned to Roland Garros qualifying on Monday with an opening victory over Belgian Hanne Vandewinkel, 6-3, 6-1.
“It wasn't the best news to be first seed in the qualifying. I guess I'm used to playing qualies though,” she laughed. “I like to grind I guess.”
There was no shortage of Ukrainian women to have made deep runs through Grand Slam draws in recent seasons from which Starodubtseva found inspiration.
Her nation’s standardbearer, Elina Svitolina, returned from maternity leave and reached the quarterfinals at Roland Garros 2023 and Melbourne Park this year either side of an upset of then No.1 Iga Swiatek to reach the Wimbledon semifinals in 2023.
Marta Kostyuk reached her maiden Slam quarterfinal at last year’s Australian Open, while Dayana Yastremska went one further to reach the last four at the same event.
“They make it difficult for me to be the best in Ukraine," she laughed. "I'm really proud of them for doing that. I really want to catch up a bit, be a bit more consistent like Svitolina, for example, she's a great tennis player.”
In April, Starodubtseva reached her first clay WTA 1000 round of 16 at Madrid following a top-20 upset of Liudmila Samsonova.
It was a result that elevated her ranking to world No.86. Unfortunately, it wasn’t soon enough for a direct route into the Roland Garros main draw.
Tamara Zidansek, a semifinalist at Roland Garros in 2021 is next up and Yastremska’s breakout Down Under run was never far from mind.
“I don't think I was a seed here last year and I definitely didn't feel as confident as I do now,” she said. “Qualifying at all four definitely helps you think you can do it again.
©Julien Crosnier / FFT“[The ascent to No.86] though was a bit too late. It is definitely tricky to block that out, but I've seen girls do it. I've seen some 70 in the world and been first seed in qualifying. Actually, one of my Ukrainian girls did it – Dayana Yastremska. She made it to the semis from qualifying at the Australian Open so it's not that bad. She showed you can do it.”
Starodubtseva also cited the likes of compatriots Lesia Tsurenko, Nadia Kichenok and Lyudmyla Kichenok for their close-knit support on tour during such difficult times for all Ukrainians given the war on home soil.
Her hometown of Kakhovka remained under Russian occupation.
“Ukrainians come and they support us, which means a lot,” she said. “They definitely remind me of home but at the same time when you play on the court you have to put it aside somehow.
“I mean, I have family still there … It's like they're just used to it so they make you feel like they're safe, but they're not. They just give you that feeling of safety and sometimes they might even lie to make you feel better but that helps to know that they're okay. It's just inspiring.”
The Roland-Garros 2025 Opening Week is shaping up nicely! Tickets are still available to come and support the future stars and watch training sessions with the biggest names on the WTA and ATP tours.
Click HERE to buy your tickets on the official Roland-Garros 2025 ticketing website
ROLAND-GARROS
18 May - 7 June 2026
