Marta Kostyuk defeated Elina Svitolina 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 to reach her first grand slam semi-final at the French Open. The Ukrainian held her nerve in a tense match that saw her break into the last four of a major for the first time.
Kostyuk is on a 17-match winning streak, having won titles in Rouen and Madrid before Roland Garros. Her clay-court form has been career-defining, and she showed composure in the deciding set against her compatriot.
After the match, Kostyuk referenced the war in Ukraine, dedicating the victory to the Ukrainian people. She noted a difficult night in Kyiv with many casualties, earning a standing ovation from the crowd.
She will face Mirra Andreeva, a rematch of their Madrid final. Andreeva said she focuses on the ball, not the opponent. Kostyuk responded that she is no longer frustrated by Russian players avoiding the war issue, stating they are aware and must live with their silence.
The depth of Ukrainian women's tennis was on display, with seven players in the top 100 and four reaching the third round in Paris. Kostyuk's victory continues a remarkable run for Ukrainian tennis.
