Mirra Andreeva advanced to her first Grand Slam final by defeating Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk 6-1, 6-3 in the French Open semifinals on June 4, 2026. The Russian teenager dominated the first set and broke Kostyuk's serve in the eighth game of the second set to secure the victory, according to EADaily.
How did Andreeva reach the final?
Andreeva defeated Romania's Sorana Cîrstea 6-0, 6-3 in the quarterfinals before her semifinal win over Kostyuk. The 19-year-old's run to the final represents a significant step forward after reaching the French Open semifinals in 2024, when she lost to Italy's Jasmine Paolini in two sets, per EADaily.
What is the significance of two Russian women in the semifinals?
Andreeva and Diana Shnaider became the first two Russian women to reach the French Open semifinals together in 17 years, according to Meduza. The last time this occurred was in 2009, when Svetlana Kuznetsova won the tournament. Shnaider advanced by defeating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 in the quarterfinals.
What is the history between Andreeva and Kostyuk?
Kostyuk held a 2-0 record against Andreeva on tour entering the semifinal. The Ukrainian defeated the Russian 6-7(5), 3-6 in the Brisbane quarterfinals earlier this year and won 6-3, 7-5 in the Madrid Open final a month prior, according to EADaily. Kostyuk did not shake hands with Andreeva after either match, following a protocol she has maintained since 2022 in protest against Russian and Belarusian athletes.
Before the Roland-Garros semifinal, Kostyuk expressed frustration with Andreeva's public silence on the war in Ukraine, telling the Russian, "I don't know how you can sleep soundly at night, understanding what's going on, and at the same time not have anything to say about it," per EADaily. After her loss, Kostyuk again did not approach Andreeva at the net.
Sources
- Meduza: Two Russian women reach French Open semifinals for first time in 17 years. Published 2026-06-03.
- EADaily: The Ukrainian, who does not shake hands with the Russians, lost to Andreeva at Roland Garros. Published 2026-06-04.
- Sky Sports: French Open: Marta Kostyuk dedicates historic Roland-Garros win to Ukraine as she books semi-final place vs Mirra Andreeva. Published 2026-06-02.
Reported from public sources.