How Ukraine-Russia tension hangs over French Open semi-finals

Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk (right) beat Russia's Mirra Andreeva when they met in last month's Madrid Open final

Russia's war in Ukraine will provide an unavoidable backdrop to the French Open women's singles semi-finals.

Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk faces Russia's Mirra Andreeva on Thursday with their respective nations still deep in conflict.

Kostyuk, 23, has been one of the most prominent Ukrainian athletes to regularly denounce the war since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched what he called a "special military operation" in February 2022.

Last week, Kostyuk described how a missile hit a building just 100m from her family home in another wave of Russian attacks on Kyiv.

"The biggest thing I can do is sit here and talk about [the war] so more people can find out about it and don't get used to this terrible life," Kostyuk said after beating fellow Ukrainian Elina Svitolina in the Roland Garros quarter-finals.

Andreeva, 19, has consistently attempted to deflect any discussion about the war and did the same again before playing Kostyuk.

"It doesn't matter who I play. I really try to play against the ball that is coming at me," said Andreeva, who is playing in her second French Open semi-final after reaching the same stage in 2024.

"It doesn't matter to me who I'm playing against, so I'm trying to really focus on the game and on the gameplan that I have to use on the court."

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Kostyuk, seeded 15th, and eighth seed Andreeva will meet in an important match for the second time in a matter of weeks.

In their Madrid Open final last month, Kostyuk won 6-3 7-5 to claim the biggest title of her career.

There was no customary handshake between the pair afterwards, due to a stance taken by Ukrainian players when Russia's full-scale invasion began four years ago.

It barely needs saying it will not take place at Roland Garros either.

If Kostyuk beats Andreeva for her 18th consecutive clay-court win, she could go on to face another Russian - Diana Shnaider - in Saturday's final.

Shnaider, 22, reached her first major semi-final by shocking Belarusian world number one Aryna Sabalanka, who has previously condemned the war which her nation has backed.

Before Shnaider played Ukraine's Oleksandra Oliynykova in the third round, she was accused by her opponent of supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Oliynykova's accusation was largely based on Shnaider playing in a St Petersburg exhibition event sponsored by Gazprom - the state-owned Russian gas company.

"I think it's the same as playing in Nazi Germany for Gestapo officers, on the tournament organised by company which built Auschwitz. There is no difference for me," Oliynykova said.

After the match Shnaider defended her decision to play in Russia, saying it was her "one opportunity" of the year to play in front of her family.

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Shnaider also refused to speak about the war or her feelings towards it - leading to more criticism from Kostyuk.

"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. They are clearly aware of what's going on," said Kostyuk.

"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."

Kostyuk has dedicated each of her Roland Garros victories to her nation.

While acknowledging she is privileged to have a career which means she spends a lot of time away from Ukraine, Kostyuk has regularly spoken about how the suffering felt by people back home fuels her motivation to succeed.

"This desire comes from there being no other options, when you have war behind your courtyard and you know sport in particular is the only way to escape that," said Slovakian former world number five Daniela Hantuchova on BBC Radio 5 Live.

With Shnaider facing Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska in the other semi-final, the geographical spread of this year's women's semi-finalists is remarkably concentrated.

Each player has their own individual back story, but Hantuchova believes there is a shared mentality which helps players from those countries to defy the odds against them.

"You don't question anything you are told to do to get where you want to," Hantuchova said.

"The starting point creates this incredible hunger and willingness to do whatever it takes."

That resilience has been demonstrated by all four semi-finalists, who have seized their chance in a wide-open draw in Paris.

Whoever manages to maintain their focus best over the next three days will become a first-time Grand Slam champion, which few predicted three weeks ago.

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