Marta Kostyuk has named the three players she believes are the "most consistent" on the WTA Tour.
Kostyuk has enjoyed a fine start to 2024, reaching a maiden quarterfinal at the Grand Slam level at last month's Australian Open. This week, she has progressed into her third quarterfinal of the season in San Diego, where she is making her comeback from a viral illness.
The Ukrainian has tallied wins over Ann Li and Taylah Preston at the WTA 500 event and awaits the winner of the match between in-form Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Xinyu Wang, scheduled for Thursday.
In the aftermath of her second-round win over Australia's Preston, Kostyuk told reporters who she thinks are the women to beat in 2024. The 21-year-old lavished praise on the Grand Slam-winning trio of Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, and Elena Rybakina, who have each won a title this year.
"For now, for me, it stays the same. It's Iga [Swiatek], Aryna [Sabalenka], [Elena] Rybakina. I think they are the most consistent anyway."
However, Kostyuk issued a disclaimer in her opinion, stating that the compact tennis calendar could deplete their energy levels. With the Olympics taking place this year and just after a Grand Slam tournament, it will be the survival of the fittest.
"Yeah, of course. Everyone gets tired. It's a very very difficult calendar, especially this year with the Olympics. But, I think if they are fresh, I think these three but they are not fresh every week, so that's the key."
Kostyuk has enjoyed an upturn in fortunes since appointing Sandra Zaniewska as coach last season. She peaked at a career-high ranking of World No. 28 shortly after reaching the aforementioned quarterfinal in Melbourne.
Her retirement in Doha and withdrawal in Dubai did not help in cementing her spot in that ranking group, but Kostyuk can rejoin the Top 30 depending on her results in San Diego.
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