Tearful Marta Kostyuk dedicates French Open last-eight win to people of Ukraine
The first all-Ukrainian women’s grand slam quarter-final in the open era resulted in a three-set triumph for Kostyuk.
A tearful Marta Kostyuk dedicated her French Open quarter-final victory over compatriot Elina Svitolina to the people of Ukraine.
For the first time in the open era, two women representing the troubled country met in the quarter-finals of a major tournament, bidding to set up a last-four clash with Russia’s Mirra Andreeva.
Svitolina had experience on her side and the support of French husband Gael Monfils but it was 23-year-old Kostyuk who proved the stronger, continuing her incredible form on clay with a 6-3 2-6 6-2 triumph.
Kostyuk began the fortnight in tears on court, revealing her family home in Kyiv had almost been hit by a Russian missile, and she was initially too emotional to speak after the win over Svitolina.
“I want to start with this historical match with Elina,” Kostyuk said after composing herself.
“We had a very difficult night again in Ukraine, especial in Kyiv, with many people dead, and I want to give this match to the Ukrainian people and their resilience.”
Kostyuk then ended the interview by calling for donations to the foundations she and Svitolina have set up to support tennis in Ukraine.
Speaking later in her press conference, Kostyuk added: “When I woke up today, I saw it was all over the news. I texted my family if they were OK. This is pretty much all I can do.
“The biggest thing I can do is sit here and talk about it so more people can find out about it so they don’t get used to this terrible life.”
Svitolina was through to the last eight here for the sixth time but is still yet to go further, and it is Kostyuk who will become the first Ukrainian woman in the open era to contest a semi-final in Paris.
A topsy-turvy match played under the roof saw Kostyuk, who has now won 17 matches in a row on clay, take the initiative in the opening set before Svitolina stepped closer to the baseline and wrestled the momentum away.
It was Kostyuk who made a better start to the decider, though, and she swept through to the last four.
Earlier, Andreeva produced a dominant performance to beat Romanian veteran Sorana Cirstea 6-0 6-3.
Cirstea, 36, is in the form of her life in what she has said will be her final year on tour but she was swatted aside by 19-year-old Andreeva in just 56 minutes.
The young Russian is already through to her second semi-final at Roland Garros having first reached the last four two years ago, when she lost to Jasmine Paolini.
Andreeva shrugged off suggestions of extra tension around playing a Ukrainian in such a high-stakes match, saying: “It doesn’t matter who I play. I really try to play against the ball that is coming at me.”
It has become a very familiar situation since the Russian invasion four years ago, given the number of leading players on tour from the countries involved.
Kostyuk has become resigned to Russian and Belarusian players not engaging with questions about the war.
“It’s not frustrating any more,” she said. “They are all grown-ups. They know what they’re talking about. They know what’s going on. They have phones. They have Instagram. They have news.
“If this is something that they want to avoid talking about, they have to live with this, not me.
“I wish there was some more clear stance on what’s going on, especially when your country is killing other people. I don’t know how you can sleep at night peacefully when you know that this is going on and you have nothing to say about it.”