Mirra Andreeva Dominates Marta Kostyuk to Reach First Grand Slam Final at French Open

Mirra Andreeva Dominates Marta Kostyuk to Reach First Grand Slam Final at French Open

Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva secured her spot in her first Grand Slam final with an impressive 6-1, 6-3 victory over Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk at the French Open. This win marks a significant milestone for Andreeva, who had previously reached the semi-finals in 2024. Andreeva, at just 19 years old, is now the fourth-youngest woman to reach the Roland Garros final in the last 30 years, joining the ranks of legends like Martina Hingis, Kim Clijsters, and Coco Gauff. If she triumphs in the final, Andreeva would become the third-youngest first-time Grand Slam champion this century, following in the footsteps of Maria Sharapova and Emma Raducanu. In her post-match interview, Andreeva expressed her nerves, stating, "I am still very, very nervous. I was nervous coming into this match. All of these feelings combined, it is amazing - I have never felt anything like this before." The match backdrop was marked by the ongoing conflict stemming from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which influenced both players' approach. Kostyuk, who has been vocal against the war, did not participate in a pre-match photo with Andreeva, and they refrained from shaking hands post-match. Andreeva's victory is particularly notable as she becomes the first player born since 2005 to reach a major singles final. Her performance has been outstanding this tournament, having lost only one set throughout her six matches. Despite Kostyuk's impressive 17-match unbeaten streak on clay this season, Andreeva outperformed her, showcasing solid baseline play and a defensive strategy that limited her unforced errors to 22, compared to Kostyuk's 34. Looking ahead to the final, Andreeva acknowledged Kostyuk's talent, saying, "Until this match, she has not lost a match on clay. She is an amazing player and a very tough opponent, and I am super happy with the way I played today." With this victory, Andreeva steps into the final as the favorite, ready to take on either Diana Shnaider or Maja Chwalinska.

Source: BBC Sport - 2026-06-04