In-form Kostyuk sets up French Open semi-final with ruthless Andreeva

Marta Kostyuk was her own toughest rival for so long during the early stages of her career. As she tried to navigate the pressure that accompanied her status as a teenage prodigy, she often struggled to think clearly on the court without her emotion, fears and desperation to succeed torpedoing her form.

The path towards unlocking her potential has been tough, requiring the Ukrainian to be honest with herself and encounter the right people to help take her forward. That work continues to pay off. Kostyuk made another significant breakthrough by ending the Ukraine derby as the victor, holding her nerve to defeat Elina Svitolina 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 and reach a grand slam semi-final for the first time in her career.

lthough Kostyuk has broken new ground in Paris, this is simply a continuation of the form she has put together during what is looking increasingly like a career-defining clay-court season. She is now on a 17-match winning run, having secured titles in Rouen and Madrid in the buildup to Paris. Considering the clarity and temperament she is playing with each time she steps on the court, she can clearly go further.

After firing down a final unreturned serve, Kostyuk struggled to hold back her emotions as she digested such a significant result. Still, even in her personal triumph, she started her speech on the court by referencing the war back home, earning a long, standing ovation.

“I want to start with this historical match that we played today with Elina,” she said. “We had a very difficult night again in Ukraine, especially Kyiv. So many people dead. I want to give this match to Ukrainian people and to their resilience.”

This tournament has provided ample reminders of the horrors still unfolding in Ukraine. It started with Kostyuk waking up to the news that Russia had fired a missile within 100 metres of her family home, where her sister, mother and great aunt were staying, yet she had to compose herself and play her first-round match. Meanwhile, their compatriot Oleksandra Oliynykova has levelled stinging criticisms of the sport’s handling of Russian players.

Another duel between a Russian and Ukrainian player beckons. Kostyuk will next face the 19‑year‑old Mirra Andreeva, who produced a stellar performance to dismantle Sorana Cirstea 6-0, 6-3 and reach her second Paris semi-final. It will be a rematch of their recent final at the Madrid Open. Asked what it is like to play a Ukrainian player in these matches, Andreeva said: “For me it doesn’t matter who I play. I really try to play against the ball that is coming at me. Usually it doesn’t matter to me who I’m playing against, so I’m trying to really focus on the game and on the game plan that I have to use on the court”.

Informed of Andreeva’s comments about their upcoming meeting, Kostyuk responded: “For me it’s not frustrating any more. They are all grown-ups. They know what they’re talking about. They know what’s going on. They have phones. They have Instagram. They have news. They are clearly aware of what’s going on. If this is something that they want to avoid talking about, they have to live with this, not me. I mean, what can I say? They pick a strategy for themselves that works for them. That’s it.

“Obviously not much I can do about it. I wish there was some more clear stance on what’s going on, especially when your country is killing other people. I don’t know how you can sleep at night peacefully when you know that this is going on, and you have nothing to say about it.”