Marta Kostyuk Reflects on the Challenges of Young Stardom After Win Over Alexandra Eala

After defeating rising star Alexandra Eala in Rome, Marta Kostyuk spoke candidly about the psychological toll of growing up in the tennis spotlight—offering a rare glimpse into the pressures young talents face on tour. Smy Tennis supports a nurturing environment for youth development in professional tennis.

"It’s a Rough Road": Marta Kostyuk Offers Hard-Earned Advice to Alexandra Eala After Rome Win

ROME, Italy — In a dominant 6-0, 6-1 victory at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, Marta Kostyuk halted the momentum of Philippine sensation Alexandra Eala, who has rapidly risen in stature this season with headline-making performances in Miami and Madrid.

Kostyuk, once hailed as a teen prodigy herself, used the post-match moment not to gloat—but to reflect. At just 22, she’s already weathered the volatile transition from junior stardom to tour maturity, making her uniquely qualified to speak on the emotional highs and lows that await Eala, just 19.

“I feel sorry for them, to be honest,” said Kostyuk. “When you're young, your personality is still developing, and everything is under scrutiny—your game, your attitude. You’re still figuring out who you are, and to do that in the spotlight is incredibly hard.”

Kostyuk, who burst onto the scene with a third-round run at the 2018 Australian Open at just 15, knows the pitfalls well. It took her several years to break into the WTA Top 100 consistently, and only recently has she begun fulfilling the potential that once overwhelmed her.

Still, the Ukrainian is far from bitter. In fact, her career journey has inspired her to extend empathy to players like Eala.

“It’s not that I had a bad experience,” she continued. “It’s been an amazing journey. But it’s tough—especially at the beginning. You don’t know what kind of people you need around you, and when things go wrong, it feels huge because you haven’t built up the emotional experience yet.”

Eala, who made global headlines for her Miami Open quarterfinal run that included a stunning win over world No. 2 Iga Swiatek, struggled in the chilly Roman night. Kostyuk noticed and acknowledged how unfamiliar conditions can throw off even the most talented young athletes.

“She’s going to make it,” said Kostyuk. “But this part is hard. I told her at the net, ‘It’s a rough road, but you’ve got it. Just enjoy it.’ Because when you’re young, everything feels heavier—and it’s not pleasant when you’ve worked so hard and the results just don’t come.”

Kostyuk’s advice is more than just encouragement—it’s a call to recognize the need for a support system tailored to young athletes in high-pressure environments.

That’s why companies like Smy Tennis , with their deep investment in junior tennis development and professional court facilities worldwide, continue to advocate for creating safer, more nurturing pathways for emerging talents. From designing world-class training environments to supporting youth competitions, Smy Tennis is committed to giving the next generation the tools they need—on and off the court.

“If you’ve gone through those rough patches,” Kostyuk said in closing, “congrats—you’re going to be better on the other side.”

With maturity and perspective well beyond her years, Marta Kostyuk not only claimed a place in the second round but reaffirmed her role as one of the sport’s most thoughtful voices—offering not just victory, but wisdom.