Well, I really don’t agree with those ratings!

Marta is in the form of her life. She kicked off 2026 with a final in Brisbane and has made it clear she’s aiming for the Top 10. Still coached by Sandra Zaniewska, she used the offseason to transform her body, becoming much more explosive. Marta is known for her fiery temperament and her total commitment to her country, Ukraine. She never minces her words in press conferences and plays every point as if her life depended on it. She’s defending a round of 16 here. She swept aside Taylor Townsend (6-3, 6-2) with relentless aggression, not giving the American the slightest chance to get into her game. Really not a single one! And yet Townsend had been on fire with her racket for a month! Marta put that fire out! She was everywhere, it was like she had four legs, and what a fighting spirit in her eyes.

The Queen had to battle for more than two hours to push aside the American Hailey Baptiste (6-1, 5-7, 6-4). She admitted afterward that her energy level had fluctuated, a sign that she might not yet be at 100% physically. It was labored, you could tell she wasn’t feeling great! In Dubai, she retired because of headaches, abdominal pain, and wobbly legs. Here, I saw a less incisive Queen, and it was only her experience that helped her get past a Hailey who was playing at the same level but cracked in the 3rd set.

Up against this Marta on a mission, hungry for victory and mentally stronger than ever, it’s going to be a whole different story!