Marta Kostyuk, aged 23, dedicated her French Open quarter-final victory against compatriot Elina Svitolina to Ukraine, reaching the semi-finals in Paris. This match marked the first major quarter-final in history between two Ukrainian women. Kostyuk outlasted the seventh seed Svitolina, whom she described as “a legend of Ukrainian tennis,” in a deciding set.
Kostyuk’s achievement makes her the first Ukrainian woman in the Open era to reach the singles semi-finals at Roland Garros. Her victory came a day after a missile and drone attack in Ukraine killed at least 18 people. Following her 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 win, Kostyuk stated, “We had another difficult night in Ukraine, especially in Kyiv where so many people died, so I want to give this match to Ukraine.”
Emotional Victory and Dedication
During her post-match interview on Court Philippe Chatrier, Kostyuk became emotional and received a prolonged ovation from the crowd. Interviewer Marion Bartoli offered her a hug. Kostyuk also acknowledged Svitolina’s significant influence, saying, “I want to point out Elina’s incredible impact on tennis, Ukrainians and me. She is incredible.”
This historic match took place amidst the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, a conflict that has caused Kostyuk to fear for the safety of her family and friends since February 2022. She began this French Open with a challenging first-round victory, which she called “one of the most difficult matches” of her life. She later showed journalists a photograph of a building on fire, located just 100 metres from her family home, after Russian missiles struck Kyiv.
Svitolina, aged 31, commented on the importance of Ukrainian representation in the tournament’s later stages, stating, “It’s a big inspiration for the next generation. I think this is great for sports in general in Ukraine.” She expressed sadness about the daily burden of pain and uncertainty, not knowing what the next day might bring for their families, friends, and Ukraine as a whole.
Kostyuk has been outspoken in her criticism of Russian players who have not condemned the war. Like her compatriots, she has maintained a policy of not shaking hands with opponents from Russia and its ally Belarus. She expressed her view that Russian players are aware of the situation and choose to avoid discussing it, a stance she finds difficult to reconcile with.
Looking Ahead to the Semi-Finals
Kostyuk is the first Ukrainian singles player to reach the last four at the French Open since Andrei Medvedev in 1999. She joins Svitolina and Dayana Yastremska as only the third Ukrainian woman to reach the semi-finals at one of the sport’s major tournaments.
Her next opponent will be Mirra Andreeva, a 19-year-old Russian player, in the semi-finals for a place in Saturday’s final. This will be a rematch of their recent final at the Madrid Open, which Kostyuk won. Andreeva, who defeated Sorana Cirstea 6-0, 6-3 to reach her second Paris semi-final, stated that she focuses on the game regardless of her opponent.
Kostyuk responded to Andreeva’s comments, saying, “For me it’s not frustrating anymore. They are all grown-ups. They are clearly aware of what’s going on.” She questioned how one could sleep peacefully knowing about the conflict and having nothing to say about it. She believes they have chosen a strategy that works for them.
Kostyuk enters her semi-final on a 17-match winning streak on clay this season, having secured titles in Rouen and Madrid. Despite her strong form, she remains focused on the upcoming matches. She told the crowd, “I still think it [the title] is very far. I have two matches to play and hopefully you will come and support me on Thursday.”
When asked if she would perform another backflip at Roland Garros, as she did after beating Andreeva to win the Madrid Open, Kostyuk replied, “I don’t need to practise here – I did it a month ago – but I promised I will only do it again when I win a final.”
