French Open semi-finals overshadowed by Ukraine-Russia geopolitical tensions
Kostyuk’s vocal condemnation of the war contrasts sharply with the silence of her Russian opponents, raising questions about the role of athletes in global conflict.
The ongoing war in Ukraine has become an inescapable backdrop to the French Open women’s singles semi-finals, particularly the clash between Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk and Russia’s Mirra Andreeva. Kostyuk, 23, has emerged as one of the most prominent Ukrainian athletes to publicly denounce the conflict since the invasion began in February 2022. Her stance is rooted in personal experience; last week, she described how a missile struck a building just 100 metres from her family home in Kyiv during a recent wave of Russian attacks.
Speaking after defeating fellow Ukrainian Elina Svitolina in the quarter-finals, Kostyuk emphasised her duty to raise awareness. "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," she said. She has dedicated each of her victories at Roland Garros to her nation, citing the suffering back home as a primary motivator for her success on the court.
In stark contrast, Andreeva, 19, has consistently deflected questions regarding the geopolitical situation, choosing to focus exclusively on her gameplay. The Russian teenager, playing in her second French Open semi-final, stated that the identity of her opponent is irrelevant to her preparation. "It doesn't matter who I play. I really try to play against the ball that is coming at me," Andreeva said, reiterating her intent to stick to her game plan.
The tension between the two players was evident in their previous encounter at the Madrid Open final last month, where Kostyuk secured a 6-3, 7-5 victory. Following that match, no customary handshake occurred, adhering to the stance taken by Ukrainian players since the full-scale invasion began four years ago. This protocol is expected to continue at Roland Garros as the players meet for the second time in weeks, with Kostyuk aiming for her 18th consecutive clay-court win.
If Kostyuk advances, she faces the prospect of meeting another Russian player, Diana Shnaider, in the final. Shnaider, 22, has drawn significant criticism for her silence on the war and for participating in a Gazprom-sponsored exhibition event in St Petersburg. Ukrainian player Oleksandra Oliynykova previously compared playing for a tournament sponsored by the state-owned gas company to playing for Gestapo officers in Nazi Germany. Shnaider defended her participation as her "one opportunity" to play in front of her family, a stance that Kostyuk has questioned directly.
"They are all grown-ups. They know what they're talking about... They have phones. They have Instagram. They have news. They are clearly aware of what's going on," Kostyuk said. "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."
Despite the political friction, former world number five Daniela Hantuchova noted a shared mentality among the semi-finalists, describing their "incredible hunger and willingness to do whatever it takes." Hantuchova suggested that the difficult starting points for these players create a resilience that allows them to defy the odds. With all four semi-finalists vying for a first-time Grand Slam title, the tournament in Paris has become a stage where athletic performance and geopolitical reality are inextricably linked.
