Roland Garros: Andreeva crushes Kostyuk to reach first Grand Slam final

Mirra Andreeva, the world No. 8, has achieved a career milestone by reaching her first Grand Slam final at Roland Garros. The young Russian player delivered a dominant performance in the semifinals, defeating Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk 6-1, 6-3 in just over an hour on the main court in Paris.

Andreeva's victory makes her the youngest finalist at the French Open since American Coco Gauff in 2022. The match also served as a form of revenge for Andreeva, who had previously lost to Kostyuk in the final of the WTA 1000 event in Madrid. Kostyuk had entered the Roland Garros semifinals on a strong winning streak, having won 16 consecutive matches on clay this season and reaching her best Grand Slam performance to date.

The Ukrainian player, who had used the tournament as a platform to speak out about the war in her country, did not shake hands with Andreeva after the match. Andreeva controlled the game from the outset with her powerful and aggressive forehand. This commanding win followed her similarly dominant performance in the quarterfinals, where she defeated Romania's Sorana Cirstea 6-0, 6-3.

In the second set against Kostyuk, the Ukrainian managed to break Andreeva's serve in the seventh game. However, the Russian quickly regained control, closing out the match without further significant challenges. Andreeva acknowledged Kostyuk's strong performance and the importance of reversing their previous encounter. She also credited her coach, former Roland Garros finalist Conchita Martínez, stating, "All the work is paying off."

Andreeva's opponent in the final will be determined by the match between her compatriot Diana Shnaider and Poland's Maja Chwalinska. With 35 wins this season, including 21 on clay, Andreeva is the most successful player on the tour. She aims to become the third-youngest Grand Slam champion of the 21st century, following in the footsteps of Maria Sharapova and Emma Raducanu.

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All the work is paying off.