Marta Kostyuk, seeded 15, will meet Mirra Andreeva in Thursday's French Open semi‑final. The Ukrainian has used her platform to highlight the war, recalling a missile strike that landed 100 m from her family home. Andreeva, playing her second Roland Garros semi‑final, insists she only focuses on ball and game plan. Both players carry the weight of their nations' conflict, turning the court into a battlefield.

Kostyuk entered the match on an 18‑match clay streak after defeating Ukrainian Elina Svitolina in the quarters and beating Andreeva 6‑3 7‑5 in the Madrid Open final last month. A handshake was omitted then and will be absent again, reflecting boycott by Ukrainian players since Russia’s 2022 invasion. Kostyuk dedicated the victory to Ukraine, saying the support of her compatriots fuels her drive on clay.

On the other side of the draw, 22‑year‑old Diana Shnaider awaits the winner, having reached her first major semi‑final by upsetting world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka. Shnaider drew criticism for playing a St Petersburg exhibition sponsored by Gazprom, which she defended as her only chance to perform before family. The semifinals promise a first‑time Grand Slam champion.