PARIS - Rising Russian star Mirra Andreeva delivered a commanding performance to reach her first Grand Slam final, defeating Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk 6-1, 6-3 in a one-sided French Open semi-final at Roland Garros on Thursday. The 19-year-old eighth seed dominated from the outset, showcasing her power, precision and composure on Court Philippe-Chatrier to secure a place in Saturday's final.
Andreeva's Dominant Display
With the victory, Andreeva avenged her defeat to Kostyuk in the Madrid Open final and continued her remarkable rise on the international stage. The match carried additional significance amid the ongoing political tensions between Russia and Ukraine. As has become customary since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, there was no pre-match photograph or post-match handshake between the players.
Andreeva wasted little time asserting her authority, racing to a 4-0 lead in the opening set. Kostyuk struggled with both nerves and difficult windy conditions, committing a series of unforced errors that allowed the Russian teenager to maintain complete control.
Second Set Challenge Overcome
The Ukrainian briefly threatened a comeback in the second set after breaking serve to reduce the deficit to 4-3. However, Andreeva responded immediately, breaking back in the next game before confidently serving out the match in just 76 minutes.
"I'm super happy with the way I played," said Andreeva after the match. "She's an amazing player and a very tough opponent. Reaching my first Grand Slam final is an incredible feeling." Andreeva also praised her ability to remain focused despite challenging weather conditions and the temporary closure of the stadium roof.
Mixed Doubles Title Retained
Meanwhile, Italy's Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori successfully defended their French Open mixed doubles title, defeating American Evan King and Canada's Gabriela Dabrowski 4-6, 6-3, 10-4 in the final. The top-seeded Italian pair dominated the deciding match tie-break to become the first team since 2019 to retain the Roland Garros mixed doubles crown.
The victory also marked their fourth mixed doubles Grand Slam title in the last seven major tournaments, underlining one of the most successful partnerships in recent years. Errani described the triumph as "still a dream," while Vavassori praised his partner both on and off the court as the pair celebrated another memorable success in Paris.
