06/02/26 08:41:00
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06/02 08:40 CDT Andreeva powers into French Open semifinals and sets up
Russia-Ukraine showdown
Andreeva powers into French Open semifinals and sets up Russia-Ukraine showdown
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.
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.
Svitolina added, "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 found out early in the morning. I have a couple of friends that told me
about it, who are there," Svitolina said. "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 will leave Roland Garros to look after the daughter she has with
French tennis player Gael Monfils, but will be cheering Kostyuk on from a
distance.
"I will be watching the match and definitely cheering for her, hopefully that
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
professional 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."
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."
In men's play, up-and-coming Rafael Jodar of Spain faces a tall order against
second-seeded Alexander Zverev. Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic takes on
Joao Fonseca of Brazil in the night session.
___
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
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