Roland-Garros Day 8 Shockers: Swiatek Stunned on Birthday by Kostyuk, Mensik Outlasts Rublev in Five-Set Epic, and Jodar Mounts Miracle Comeback
Key Points
Shattered Title Dreams: World No. 3 and four-time champion Iga Świątek was sensationally knocked out on her birthday in the fourth round by 15th seed Marta Kostyuk.
Ukrainian Double Triumph: Alongside Kostyuk, Elina Svitolina bounced back from a set down to defeat Belinda Bencic, securing a massive day for Ukraine in Paris.
Five-Set Marathon Drama: Emerging Czech talent Jakub Menšík survived a grueling 3-hour, 45-minute baseline battle against Andrey Rublev to book his debut Grand Slam quarterfinal.
Miracle Recovery: Teen sensation Rafael Jodar recovered from a daunting two-set deficit against veteran Pablo Carreño Busta to storm into the final eight.
The Open Field: Following the exits of superstars like Djokovic, Sinner, and Gauff, the 2026 tournament guarantees a first-time women's French Open champion.
advertisement
The clay courts of Paris turned into an absolute theater of sports drama on Sunday, May 31, 2026, as Day 8 of the French Open delivered some of the most shocking upsets and physical marathons in recent tennis history.
In a stunning afternoon session on Court Philippe-Chatrier, 15th-seeded Marta Kostyuk produced a tactical masterpiece to defeat four-time champion Iga Świątek 7-5, 6-1, completely spoiling the Polish superstar’s birthday and ending her clay dominance with a barrage of precision passing shots and aggressive baseline depth.
The shock waves extended deep into the draw because, following defending champion Coco Gauff’s exit the previous evening, the elimination of Świątek guarantees that a first-time women’s singles champion will lift the Coupe Suzanne-Lenglen this year.
Adding to the golden day for Ukrainian tennis, No. 7 seed Elina Svitolina rallied beautifully from a set down to dismantle 11th seed Belinda Bencic 4-6, 6-6, 6-0, completely shutting out the Swiss star in a flawless deciding set.
Meanwhile, the men's draw witnessed its own changing of the guard on Court Suzanne-Lenglen, where 20-year-old Czech phenom Jakub Menšík survived an exhausting 3-hour and 45-minute thriller to eliminate Andrey Rublev 6-3, 7-6(6), 4-6, 2-6, 6-3, showing icy composure to save two critical break points in the final game before booking his maiden major quarterfinal.
Menšík's next opponent will be decided by the electric night session match on Chatrier, where Brazilian sensation João Fonseca leads 15th seed Casper Ruud 7-5, 7-6(8) in front of a roaring crowd that includes tennis legend Gustavo Kuerten.
Earlier in the day, the Spanish contingent witnessed a staggering internal battle as teenager Rafael Jodar executed a miraculous comeback from two sets down to defeat veteran countryman Pablo Carreño Busta 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2, physical proof of the youngster’s incredible stamina after playing back-to-back five-set matches.
Jodar’s reward is a blockbuster quarterfinal clash against second seed Alexander Zverev, who advanced efficiently by taking down qualifier Jesper De Jong 7-6(3), 6-4, 6-1 once he found his rhythm.
In another historic milestone on the outer courts, Romanian veteran Sorana Cîrstea defeated Chinese qualifier Wang Xiyu 6-3, 7-6(4) to reach her second Roland-Garros quarterfinal, setting an Open Era record for the longest gap (17 years) between structural appearances in the final eight of a single Grand Slam.
Key Points Summary
| Player | Match Status / Result | Core Takeaway |
| Marta Kostyuk | Won vs. Iga Świątek (7-5, 6-1) | Reached first Paris QF; guaranteed a new era of RG women's champions. |
| Jakub Menšík | Won vs. Andrey Rublev (6-3, 7-6, 4-6, 2-6, 6-3) | Survived 3h 45m marathon to reach his first-ever major quarterfinal. |
| Rafael Jodar | Won vs. P. Carreño Busta (4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2) | Overcame 0-2 set deficit; faces Alexander Zverev next. |
| Sorana Cîrstea | Won vs. Wang Xiyu (6-3, 7-6) | Broke Open Era record with a 17-year gap between her Paris quarterfinals. |
| João Fonseca | In Progress vs. Casper Ruud (7-5, 7-6, 4-4) | One set away from a historic breakthrough on Court Philippe-Chatrier. |
advertisement
Frequently Asked Questions [FAQ]
Who is left in the 2026 women's French Open draw that has won the title before?
Nobody. Following the third-round exit of defending champion Coco Gauff on Saturday and Iga Świątek's fourth-round loss to Marta Kostyuk on Sunday, all remaining players in the women's singles draw are competing to become a first-time champion at Roland-Garros.
How did Alexander Zverev perform in his fourth-round match today?
Second-seeded Alexander Zverev secured his spot in the quarterfinals with a straight-sets victory over Jesper De Jong, winning 7-6(3), 6-4, 6-1. He will face Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar in the next round.
What is the significance of Sorana Cîrstea's victory today?
By defeating Wang Xiyu, 36-year-old Sorana Cîrstea reached the French Open quarterfinals exactly 17 years after her first quarterfinal appearance here as a teenager in 2009. This is the longest gap between quarterfinals at a single Grand Slam tournament for any woman in the Open Era.
Are there any prominent male favorites missing from this year's tournament?
Yes. The 2026 men's singles draw is incredibly open due to the early tournament defeats of Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner, alongside the complete absence of Carlos Alcaraz, who had to withdraw before the tournament due to injury.
Sources
Official Roland-Garros Day 8 Live Updates (Published May 31, 2026)
Associated Press Tennis Coverage via News4Jax: Kostyuk Stuns Swiatek (Published May 31, 2026)
Fox Sports Australia: Roland-Garros Tournament Wrap and Results (Published May 31, 2026)
Thank you !
