06/02/26 10:46:00
Printable Page
06/02 10:44 CDT Andreeva and Kostyuk set up Russia-Ukraine clash in French Open
semifinals
Andreeva and Kostyuk set up Russia-Ukraine clash in French Open semifinals
By SAMUEL PETREQUIN
AP Sports Writer
PARIS (AP) --- Marta Kostyuk, the best player on clay this season and a vocal
supporter of Ukraine amid the war with Russia, will play her first major
semifinal at the French Open against a Russian.
Kostyuk won an intense all-Ukraine quarterfinal against Elina Svitolina 6-3,
2-6, 6-2 on Tuesday. That set up Kostyuk against Russian teenager Mirra
Andreeva, who thumped Romanian veteran Sorana Cirstea 6-0, 6-3.
In men's play, up-and-coming Rafael Jodar of Spain was powerless against
second-seeded Alexander Zverev, losing 7-6 (3), 6-1, 6-3. The 2024 runner-up
from Germany will face Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic or Joao Fonseca of
Brazil for a place in Sunday's final.
Kostyuk leads Andreeva 2-0 on the tour; the second win in the Madrid final a
month ago. Kostyuk didn't shake hands at the net, following protocol for
Ukrainians with opponents from Russia and its ally Belarus since the war
started four years ago.
"We had a very difficult night again in Ukraine, especially in Kyiv, so many
people dead," Kostyuk said. "I want to give this match to Ukrainian people and
to their resilience. Slava Ukraini! (Glory to Ukraine!)"
Russia launched hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles against Kyiv and
other Ukrainian cities overnight, killing at least 18 civilians and wounding
more than 100 others, authorities said on Tuesday.
"I texted my family if they were OK. This is pretty much all I can do," Kostyuk
said. "The biggest thing I can do is sit here and talk about it so more people
can find out about it so they don't get used to this terrible life."
Svitolina said friends in Ukraine told her about the attacks just hours before
the match.
"Just very sad that we all have to really put up with this heaviness and pain
every single day, and scared moments not knowing what's going to bring the next
day," Svitolina said.
She will leave Roland Garros to look after the daughter she has with French
tennis player Gael Monfils, but will be cheering on Kostyuk.
"Hopefully she can get the title," Svitolina said. "It's going to be massive
for Ukraine."
No. 7-seeded Svitolina got off to a slow start but worked her way back,
matching No. 15 Kostyuk's power from the baseline. Kostyuk was better on the
important points in the decider and improved her impressive 2026 record on clay
to 17-0.
She's the first Ukrainian woman to reach the semifinals at Roland Garros in the
Open era since 1968. Svitolina has reached the semis at the other three Grand
Slams but failed for the sixth time to win a French Open quarterfinal.
Andreeva will appear in her second French Open semifinal, two years after the
first. She was asked about the challenges of playing a Ukrainian in wartime.
"Well, for me it doesn't matter who I play," Andreeva said. "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."
Asked whether she found it frustrating to hear Russian opponents avoiding the
issue, Kostyuk said she wished "there was some more clear stance on what's
going on."
"Especially when your country is killing other people," she added. "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."
After a week of hot weather, rain arrived in Paris and play started under the
closed roof of Court Philippe-Chatrier. Competing in the quarterfinals for the
first time in 17 years, Cirstea struggled to find her rhythm against her
19-year-old rival.
The 36-year-old veteran, playing the final season of her career, immediately
dropped her serve. She didn't hold serve or win a game until the first game of
the second set. Andreeva's deep, accurate groundstrokes and charges to the net
took a toll on 18th-seeded Cirstea, whose attempt to come back was shortlived.
"I felt like it was one of my best matches so far this tournament," Andreeva
said. "Super happy to be back in semis."
___
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
|
