Mirra Andreeva blasted into her first Grand Slam final with a sensational straight-sets demolition of Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in a politically charged semi-final match at the French Open in Paris on Thursday.
The 19-year-old Russian put in a masterful display on Court Philippe-Chatrier, overwhelming Kostyuk 6-1, 6-3 to continue her best season in the sport in an emphatic way and keep her stunning rise to the very top of tennis continuing.
Andreeva was always in charge of proceedings during an even first set before breaking Kostyuk at the earliest opportunity to claim a one-set lead. From then on, the battle between the 19-year-old Russian and the visibly emotional 21-year-old Ukrainian always appeared likely to go to the Russian as Kostyuk continued to wear the strain of the pressure she has been under this tournament, following a deeply emotional run through the French Open that has seen her outspoken about the continuing war on her homeland of Ukraine by Russia.
“I will never forget those ovations after my match in the quarters of this tournament,” Kostyuk told media following her defeat. “That I will remember all my life. I will never trust anyone who would tell you that you have zero influence on the world stage, because I felt this.”
Kostyuk had produced her best-ever Grand Slam performance, reaching the last four, where she ultimately went out but was able to do her utmost to promote and draw attention to her homeland through her performances. Meanwhile, Andreeva continued to show the calmness on court that she has carried throughout her run in this tournament; she is clearly one of the next best players to dominate the sport of tennis, and she now stands one win away from a historic Grand Slam title.
She said that her recently gained better mentality has really allowed her to stay calm and more positive on the tennis court, and she has done a lot of work with her sports psychologist regarding this.
However, the geopolitical tension that hung heavy around the contest still remained, with Kostyuk refusing to shake her rival’s hand at the net, carrying on a well-established pattern of no handshakes being offered between Ukrainian and Russian players throughout this tournament and beyond.
Andreeva reached a stunning French Open final with the Russian being one of the youngest finalists in Paris for many years; she is one of the youngest Grand Slam finalists that there has been.
