Australian Open: Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk creates history

Marta Kostyuk

Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk became the youngest tennis star to book her place in the third round of a grand slam in over two decades.

Kostyuk on Wednesday thrashed local wildcard Olivia Rogowska in straight sets in the women's singles event of the Australian Open here.

Kostyuk, 15, who entered the tournament ranked No. 521, made 11 victories in a row when she defeated Australia's Rogowska 6-3, 7-5 in the second round that lasted an hour and 30 minutes on Margaret Court Arena.

With the win, Kostyuk became the youngest to reach that stage at a Slam since Mirjana Lucic-Baroni in the 1997 US Open, the WTA reported.

Earlier, Kostyuk had earned a wildcard entry into the Australian Open qualifying rounds, and she fought through three tough battles to make it to the main draw of a Grand Slam for the first time.

Her first-round victory over No 25 seed Peng Shuai of China made her the youngest player to win a match at the Australian Open since Martina Hingis' quarterfinal run in 1996, when the Swiss star was 15 years and four months old.

The Ukrainian will now lock horns with fourth seed and fellow countrywoman Elina Svitolina for a place in the last-16.

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