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A tearful Marta Kostyuk has dedicated her French Open quarter-final against compatriot Elina Svitolina in Paris after making history in the last four in Paris.
23-year-old seventh seed Svitolina – who she described earlier “Legends of Ukrainian Tennis” – in a deciding set in the first major quarterfinal between two Ukrainian women in history.
Kostyuk is the first Ukrainian woman in the Open era to reach the singles semi-finals at Roland Garros – and the feat is not far from her mind with the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Kostyuk and Svitolina went to court the day after the missile and drone strikes At least 18 people were killed across Ukraine.
Speaking on court after his 6-3 2-6 6-2 win, Kostyuk said: “We had another tough night in Ukraine, especially in Kiev where a lot of people died, so I want to give this match to Ukraine.”
Kostyuk broke down in tears as the crowd gave him a long ovation at the Court Philippe Chatrier, with interviewer Marion Bartoli coming forward to hug him.
He also paid tribute to four-time major semi-finalist Svitolina, saying: “I want to point out Elina’s incredible influence on tennis, on Ukrainians and on me. She’s incredible.”
The first Ukrainian singles player to reach the last four since Andrei Medvedev at the French Open in 1999, Kostyuk will face Russian Mira Andreeva for a place in Saturday’s final.
