Russia’s Mirra Andreeva reacts after winning in the course of the semifinal tennis match against Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk on the French Open in Paris, Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
PARIS–Mirra Andreeva raced into her first Grand Slam final as she beat an erratic Marta Kostyuk 6-1, 6-3 on the French Open on Thursday.
The 19-year-old Russian took one hour and 16 minutes to beat her Ukrainian opponent. Andreeva will play either compatriot Diana Shnaider or Pole Maja Chwalinska in Saturday’s final.
READ: Andreeva, Kostyuk arrange Russia-Ukraine clash in French Open
“I’m still very, very nervous. I used to be very nervous coming into this match,” said eighth-seeded Andreeva on court at the tip.
Kostyuk, the fifteenth seed, had won her previous two meetings with Andreeva, each this 12 months. Probably the most recent was on clay in the ultimate in Madrid as Kostyuk put together a 17-match unbeaten run on the red dirt coming into the Roland Garros last 4.
Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk reacts in the course of the semifinal tennis match against Russia’s Mirra Andreeva on the French Open in Paris, Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Yet, on Thursday, she quickly began to unravel against her teenage opponent. Kostyuk dropped serve within the very first game after two double faults and a pair of unforced errors.
She led 0-40 in Andreeva’s first service game but a mix of Kostyuk errors on high-risk strokes and the Russian’s steadier defence allowed Andreeva to get well to consolidate the break.
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The pattern persevered as Andreeva grabbed the initiative to win through the 34-minute set.
Kostyuk had a break point in the primary game of the second set but couldn’t take it.
Andreeva pulled 4-1 ahead. Kostyuk, who finished with 34 unforced errors, finally forced a break of her own but promptly dropped serve to like and Andreeva duly served out the win.
“She’s had an incredible season,” said Andreeva of Kostyuk. “She’s an incredible player, very tough opponent.
“I’m super comfortable with the best way I played after which that I got revenge for Madrid final and I’m comfortable that I’m in my first-ever Grand Slam final.
“All of those feelings combined it’s amazing. I’ve never felt anything like this before.”
Andreeva was the one one among the ladies’s semi-finalists to have reached this stage at one among the 4 majors — she lost to Jasmine Paolini on the last-four stage of Roland Garros in 2024.
Shnaider and Chwalinska, a qualifier, meet to make your mind up her final opponent later Thursday.
“I’m nervous but at the identical time I’m very, very excited,” added Andreeva of playing her first major title-decider.