The remarkable ascent of a tennis player who conquered all four Grand Slams in one season
In short: In 2024, Yuliia Starodubtseva achieved a rare feat in professional tennis. By qualifying for every major tournament in a single year, the Ukrainian player proved that the grueling path through qualifying rounds can lead to the very top of the world rankings.
Yuliia Starodubtseva’s rise through the WTA rankings is defined by her ability to navigate the high-pressure qualifying draws of the world's most prestigious tournaments. She holds the distinction of being the inaugural female player during the Open Era to reach the main draws of every Grand Slam within one year (2024). This period saw her transition from a college player at Old Dominion University to a top-100 mainstay, marked by significant victories over high-seeded opponents.
Her breakthrough at the WTA 1000 level came at the China Open, where, after qualifying, she defeated several notable players, including the 10th seed Anna Kalinskaya and 2's seed Kateřina Siniaková, to reach the quarterfinals. This momentum carried her into 2025, where she achieved a third-round appearance at the French Open as a lucky loser. Her resilience was further demonstrated at the Ningbo Open, where she engaged in a marathon three-hour and 33-minute battle against Belinda Bencic, the longest match of the 2025 season at that time.
By 2026, Starodubtseva had reached a career-high singles ranking of world No. 53. Her tournament history is characterized by deep runs in both singles and doubles, including reaching her first WTA Tour final at the Charleston Open, where she faced defending champion Jessica Pegula. Her progress from qualifying stages to top-level tennis, evidenced by three doubles and four singles ITF Circuit victories, demonstrates immense psychological and physical endurance.
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