Ukraine duo vying for French Open historyImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Tuesday’s meeting between Elina Svitolina (left) and Marta Kostyuk will mark only the second time that two Ukrainian players have reached the quarter-finals of a Grand SlamByHarry PooleBBC Sport journalistPublished9 hours agoWhen Marta Kostyuk high-fived fellow Ukrainian Elina Svitolina in the corridors of Court Philippe Chatrier after reaching the French Open quarter-finals on Sunday, it represented far more than than a simple gesture of congratulations.”I do feel like they’re united and they’re playing for something more than just tennis,” former British player Anne Keothavong told TNT Sports after witnessing that moment.With their country at war, a mutual respect and admiration exists between the pair which transcends their ambitions on the tennis court.When Svitolina and Kostyuk go head-to-head in their quarter-final on Tuesday, one of them will become the first Ukrainian women’s singles semi-finalist at Roland Garros since the start of the professional era in 1968.The significance of that achievement is not lost on either.”There’s going to be someone from Ukraine in the semi-final so it’s already amazing,” stated Svitolina on court after winning her fourth-round match against Belinda Bencic.”It couldn’t be a better tournament for us. It’s an amazing achievement for Ukrainian tennis, we have so many great players coming up as well in such a difficult situation right now.”It’s really difficult and I think it’s really inspiring for the next generation to really believe it is possible one day to play on this court and win.”‘There are much bigger things in life than tennis’Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Ukrainian players have had to cope with the emotional toll and practical disruption to their lives.Yet, seven Ukrainian women are inside the world’s top 100, which is more than three of the four nations that host Grand Slams have.Kostyuk has managed to extend her clay-court winning streak to 15 tour matches by reaching the last eight in Paris – despite beginning this tournament with “one of the most difficult matches” of her life after Russian missiles narrowly missed her family’s Kyiv home the night before.
The emotional 23-year-old later showed journalists a photograph of a building on fire, which she stated was just 100 metres from her family home.
On the court, her remarkable winning run continues.
She has stated she was previously too hard on herself, focusing too much on results, but is now determined to “enjoy playing tennis”. That was in evidence when she danced on the court while waiting for Iga Swiatek to return between sets during her impressive straight-set victory over the four-time champion.
“It gives you a different perspective,” stated Kostyuk. “Before my first-round match, I don’t even know what I’m doing here. Like, this is not important at all.
“For sure, it gave me more space and understanding that there are much bigger things in life than tennis.
“I try to keep that in mind always.”
