Ukrainian Kostyuk defeats Svitolina to reach Roland Garros semifinal

Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk has advanced to her first Grand Slam semifinal at Roland Garros, overcoming compatriot Elina Svitolina in a quarterfinal match with a score of 6-3, 2-6, 6-2. The 23-year-old Kostyuk, currently ranked 15th, will now face Russia's Mirra Andreeva, whom she previously defeated in the Madrid Open final.

Kostyuk's victory marks her 16th consecutive win on clay this year, following her triumphs in Rouen and Madrid. Svitolina, 31, had reached the quarterfinals, matching her previous best performance at Roland Garros. The match lasted 1 hour and 49 minutes, with Kostyuk's momentum ultimately prevailing over Svitolina's strong clay-court form, which included a recent win in Rome.

Kostyuk, who began her tournament visibly emotional after a missile struck near her parents' home the night before her first match, dedicated her win to the Ukrainian people and their resilience. "We have had another difficult night in Ukraine, with many dead, especially in Kyiv. I want to dedicate this victory to the Ukrainians and their resistance," she stated.

Her opponent, 19-year-old Andreeva, trained by Spain's Conchita Martínez, reached her second semifinal in three years by defeating veteran Romanian Sorana Cirstea 6-0, 6-3. Andreeva has secured 19 clay-court wins this season, the most on the tour. Kostyuk notably refused to shake hands with her Russian opponent at the Madrid Open final, reflecting her strong stance on the invasion of her country.

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We have had another difficult night in Ukraine, with many dead, especially in Kyiv. I want to dedicate this victory to the Ukrainians and their resistance.