Marta Kostyuk dedicates spirited French Open quarter-final win over 'incredible' Elina Svitolina 'to Ukrainian people and their resilience'

Marta Kostyuk dedicated her French Open quarter-final victory over compatriot Elina Svitolina to "the Ukrainian people" and "their resilience".

The No. 15 seed became the first woman from Ukraine to reach the French Open semi-finals in the modern era as she beat Svitolina 6-3 2-6 6-2 in a high-quality match between two of the strongest players on clay this season.

Kostyuk is unbeaten through the clay-court season, taking the Madrid Open title at the beginning of May, and she defeated four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek via straight sets in the fourth round on Sunday. Victory over Svitolina was her 17th successive on clay.

Svitolina, meanwhile, exits the tournament but continued a fine 2026 campaign with another deep run at a major tournament, having also reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open in January. She won the Italian Open in the lead-up to Roland-Garros.

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The pair share a strong relationship and, speaking on court after the match, Kostyuk dedicated the "historic" quarter-final to people in Ukraine.

"First of all, I want to start with this historical match today against Elina," Kostyuk said. "We had a very difficult night again in Ukraine, especially in Kyiv, so many people dead. I want to give this match to Ukrainian people and to their resilience."

A long applause broke out on Court Philippe-Chatrier, with several in the stands holding up Ukraine flags.

Kostyuk also heaped praise on Svitolina, saying: "Of course, I want to point out Elina and her incredible impact on Ukrainian tennis, on Ukrainians and on me - and everyone who is watching. She's an unbelievable fighter.

Highlights: Kostyuk edges out fellow Ukrainian Svitolina to reach semi-finals

Video credit: TNT Sports

"I'm so happy to be through to the semi-finals but I want to thank her again for this incredible match."

Kostyuk said following her first-round victory against Oksana Selekhmetev that she had endured a "very difficult morning" after a Russian missile struck "100 metres away from my parents’ house".

At Roland-Garros, the nation has been represented strongly. Four players from Ukraine made the third round of the women's draw and Kostyuk is now flying the flag in the final four, where she will face Mirra Andreeva.

Former British No. 1 Johanna Konta said before Tuesday's match that the quarter-final between two Ukrainians would be a special moment for the country.

"I'm so pleased for the all-Ukrainian match in that top bracket," Konta said.

Watch 'full commitment' from Svitolina at net as husband Monfils watches quarter-final

Video credit: TNT Sports

"What a great moment for Ukrainian tennis. Both of them are playing incredibly they are the two most in-form players of the clay court season so far by far. So that'll be really interesting."

TNT Sports expert Tim Henman, meanwhile, added: "For both players, it’s an amazing opportunity because they’ve won so many matches on clay and are both in great shape physically and mentally.

"And to add to that, they’re both from Ukraine, which can add more pressure to the opportunity, but it’s an amazing story."

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