PARIS : Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva reached her first Grand Slam final with a commanding 6-1 6-3 victory over Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in the French Open semi-finals on Thursday.
The eighth seed produced a clinical display on Court Philippe Chatrier, taking control from the opening games and never allowing Kostyuk an opportunity to establish momentum in a match played against the backdrop of the ongoing political tensions between Russia and Ukraine.
As has been customary since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, there was no pre-match photograph featuring both players and no handshake at the net before or after the contest.
Andreeva, 19, surged into a 4-0 lead in the opening set and dictated play with aggressive baseline hitting and consistent depth. Kostyuk, who had won the pair’s previous two meetings, struggled to find answers as the Russian wrapped up the first set in just 30 minutes.
The Ukrainian briefly threatened a response in the second set, but Andreeva quickly regained control, breaking serve at a crucial stage before calmly serving out the match.
“I’m still very nervous coming to this match because she’s had an amazing season and hadn’t lost on clay, so that put pressure on me,” Andreeva said after the victory.
“She’s an amazing player and a tough opponent, so I’m super happy with the way I played. I’m happy I got revenge for the Madrid final and to reach my first Grand Slam final.”
The teenager will now bid for her first major title when she faces either fellow Russian Diana Shnaider or Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska in Saturday’s final.
“All of these feelings combined, I’ve never felt anything like this,” Andreeva said. “I’m very excited about the last match here in Paris.”
