WATCH: Marta Kostyuk grooves to Bruno Mars’ song during quarterfinal match against Donna Vekic at Paris Olympics

Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk was a treat to watch throughout the 2024 Paris Olympics but had to end her campaign in the quarter-finals. She was beaten by Donna Vekic 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (8) in a nerve-racking contest at Stade Rolland Garros on Wednesday, July 31.

Both players entered the must-win game on the back of remarkable wins, so a heated battle was expected. While Kostyuk beat Greek player Maria Sakkari, her opponent Vekic, upset World No. 2 Coco Gauff in straight sets. Although the Ukrainian lost the battle, she won the hearts of tennis fans with her fighting spirit.

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After losing the opening set, Kostyuk upped her game and dominated the second set. The 22-year-old did not buckle under the pressure heading into a crucial third set. In fact, while playing the biggest match of her career, Kostyuk was seen grooving to Bruno Mars’ popular song ‘Uptown Funk’ played in the stadium.

Watch the video below: 

Olympic QF, biggest match of her career, heading into a third set, and she's out there dancing having the time of her life



This is why we love Marta Kostyuk 💙💛 pic.twitter.com/8XxT6q9FS6

— Owen (@kostekcanu) July 31, 2024

Donna Vekic becomes the first Croatian woman to reach the semi-finals at Olympics  

Kostyuk started the third set brilliantly and took an early lead. However, Vekich fought back and levelled the game, with neither player gaining a clear advantage. The game eventually entered into a tie-breaker to decide the winner.

In the tie-break, Ukraine’s highest-ranked tennis player lost a few points. Vekic earned herself a mini-break, gained the upper hand and eventually won the game on the sixth match point. The 28-year-old, thus became the first Croatian woman to reach the semi-finals at the Olympics. 

Vekic extended her head-to-head record to 2-0 against Kostyuk. She had won their previous encounter at this year’s Frech Open in Straight sets. Vekic will now face Slovakia’s Anna Karolína Schmiedlova in the semifinals on Thursday, August 1. Schmiedlova defeated Barbora Krejcikova from the Czech Republic to advance to the semis.

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