By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, June 4, 2026
Photo credit: Jon Buckle/ROLEX
Young stars collided on a murky blustery day in Paris.
A blazing Mirra Andreeva outshined a jittery Marta Kostyuk for a major milestone.
Tearing through nine of the first 10 games, a 19-year-old Andreeva crushed Kostyuk 6-1, 6-3 to streak into her maiden major final at Roland Garros today.
The eighth-seeded Andreeva is the first teenager to reach a women’s Grand Slam final since a 19-year-old Coco Gauff won the 2023 US Open final.
Showing calm clarity amid a whipping wind that gusted up to 35 miles an hour, Andreeva has won 12 of 13 sets reaching the Roland Garros final in just her 13th Grand Slam appearance.
“It feels amazing,” Andreeva told TNT’s Sloane Stephens. “Obviously, my first time in a Grand Slam final.
“I’m very, very happy with how I played today Mirra is an amazing opponent. She’s been on a roll this whole clay season. I ended up winning this match, I’m just very, very happy about it.”
Playing with more margin on her strokes, Andreeva pierced Kostyuk’s defenses and punctured the Ukrainian’s perfect 17-0 clay-court mark on the season.
Bidding to become the third-youngest maiden Grand Slam champion this century, behind only Maria Sharapova (17 years and 76 days old, at 2004 Wimbledon) and Emma Raducanu (18 years and 302 days old, at 2021 US Open), Andreeva will be a strong favorite in Saturday’s final.
Andreeva will meet a left-hander for the championship. Andreeva will face either a familiar face—doubles partner Diana Shnaider, who toppled world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals—or Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska, who has posted a 15-1 record in sets in a stirring Cinderella run to the semifinals.
Together, Andreeva and Shnaider have already shined on Roland Garros’ red clay partnering to capture the silver medal in doubles at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Wearing lavender Nike, Andreeva dispensed purple pain on the red clay today.
Stinging an average first-serve speed of 110 mph, Andreeva served 73 percent, saved four of five break points and drained 34 unforced errors from the Madrid champion.
The depth of Andreeva’s drives and her unwavering concentration were keys to this semi sweep.
“We’re trying to work on [the mental game] every day,” Andreeva said of her training with coach and former Grand Slam champion Conchita Martinez. “ I believe the match after [Bouzkova] we had a good conversation.
“I just told myself if I really wanna win and I really wanna play well I’m not going to be able to win and be frustrated on court. I decided it had to change step by step little by little. I brought change and I guess that’s how I got myself to a Grand Slam final.”
Thirty-two days ago, Kostyuk transformed terre battue to tennis trampoline flying to her biggest title in Madrid.
All-court acrobat Kostyuk clipped Andreeva 6-3, 7-5 in Mutua Madrid Open final then celebrated with a brilliant back flip.
In today’s rematch, Andreeva flipped the script with a commanding start.
Playing for the pride of her war-ravaged nation, a maiden major final and a spot in the Top 10, Kostyuk was understandably jittery at the start, committing a couple of double faults to drop serve in the opening game.
Trying to navigate a swirling wind, Andreeva was down triple break point in the second game, but summoned sharp serving to hold from Love-40 down for 2-0.
In an ideal start, Andreeva transitioned from defense to offense seamlessly throwing down a smash to secure the double break 3-0 lead just 12 minutes into the match.
Digging in with defiance, Kostyuk fought off five break points in the fifth game—including slamming her fastest serve of the day down the T on the fifth—earning a hard-fought hold to get on the board after 26 minutes.
Clad in lavender, Andreeva played clean combinations and mixed her forehand spins occasionally playing low slice forehands to contrast with her higher topspin.
The two-time semifinalist plays with more spin on her shots, while Kostyuk sometimes struggled for net clearance.
Andreeva converted her second set point when Kostyuk bashed a backhand into the net, snatching the 33-minute opener on her third service break.
Dropping nine of the first 10 games, Kostyuk desperately needed to make a stand. She did, holding for 1-3 as French fans roared trying to rouse the Ukrainian to a higher level.
Muting the uprising, Andreeva slammed down a smash that helped her extend to 6-1, 4-1 after 59 minutes.
Foreboding cloud cover prompted officials to close the retractable roof over Court Chatrier.
Though calmer conditions helped Kostyuk craft a two-game spurt, no one could put a lid on Andreeva’s level today.
Following a forehand forward, Andreeva snapped a smash to break for 5-3.
When Kostyuk’s final forehand sailed beyond the baseline, Andreeva tossed her Wilson stick aside and thrust her arms in triumphant celebration of her first Grand Slam final.
Though Andreeva established herself as a future potential major champion toppling Aryna Sabalenka en route to the 2024 Roland Garros semifinals, it’s still impressive to see the maturation of her game and competitive character.
Remember last March, Katerina Siniakova scored a wild 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-3 upset of Andreeva at Indian Wells—and sparked an indignant diva departure from the 2025 champion.
Andreeva lost her crown then lost her cool.
A tearful and irate Andreeva flung her racquet before the post-match handshake.
#Siniakova‘s stunning victory over the reigning champion Andreeva marks a monumental upset, continuing the 35-year streak of the title never being successfully defended at this tournament.#IndianWells#BNPParibasOpen#TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/Y6SgO575Ou
— THE TENNIS TALK 🏆 (@AnalyticsTennis) March 9, 2026
Mirra Andreeva is a rockstar pic.twitter.com/hjlXWd2Plp
— Barstool Tennis (@StoolTennis) March 10, 2026
As the Stadium 1 crowd roared, Andreeva appeared to shout “F–k You All!” as she walked off the court.
Facing swirling semifinal stress, an unruly wind and an unbeaten clay-court opponent today, Andreeva conquered all challenges for a massive major step forward.