PARIS - The clay courts of Roland Garros have become a complex geopolitical stage, with the French Open semifinals featuring emotionally charged matchups under the shadow of Russia's war in Ukraine.
Marta Kostyuk defeated fellow Ukrainian Elina Svitolina 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 to set up a semifinal against 19-year-old Russian Mirra Andreeva. The other half of the draw sees world number one Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus facing Russia's Diana Shnaider, while Anna Kalinskaya takes on Poland's Maja Chwalinska.
Belarusian and Russian players compete under neutral flags. The psychological toll is heavy: Kostyuk played hours after a Russian missile struck near her family home in Kyiv. Svitolina called the war "an inescapable burden." Andreeva says she focuses only on the game.