Marta Kostyuk reaction on reaching first Grand Slam semi-final melts hearts following her French Open win over World No 7 Elina Svitolina

Marta Kostyuk reached the first Grand Slam semi-final of her career after defeating fellow Ukrainian Elina Svitolina 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 in an emotional French Open quarter-final on Tuesday. The 23-year-old delivered a strong performance in a match that carried extra significance for both players. After securing victory, Kostyuk became emotional on court and dedicated the win to the people of Ukraine following another difficult night in Kyiv. The result extended her winning streak to 16 matches and kept her hopes of winning a maiden Grand Slam title alive.The all-Ukrainian clash attracted plenty of attention at Roland Garros. Both players showed great determination in a contest that lasted three sets. While Kostyuk celebrated a historic milestone, Svitolina’s impressive clay-court season came to an end. The seventh seed had enjoyed a successful run on clay but was unable to overcome her younger compatriot. Kostyuk will now face Russia’s Mirra Andreeva in Thursday’s semi-final, with a place in the French Open final at stake.Marta Kostyuk made a fast start under the closed roof of Court Philippe Chatrier. She quickly moved into a 4-1 lead by striking the ball aggressively and controlling the rallies. Although Elina Svitolina managed to recover one break, Kostyuk stayed composed and captured the opening set 6-3 after forcing another error from her opponent.The momentum changed in the second set. Svitolina became more aggressive on return and stepped inside the court more often. Her improved approach paid off as she raced into a lead and eventually levelled the match by taking the set 6-2. Kostyuk struggled with unforced errors during this phase. It allowed Svitolina to dictate many of the points.The deciding set was tense from the beginning. Both players exchanged service breaks. Kostyuk eventually gained control after earning a crucial break for a 3-2 advantage. She then held serve confidently. The Ukraine star continued to apply pressure with smart shot selection and effective drop shots. Another break gave her a commanding lead before she comfortably served out the match.Speaking after the victory, Kostyuk said the match was dedicated to the Ukrainian people, who continue to show strength during difficult times. She also praised Svitolina, describing her as a major influence on Ukrainian tennis and an inspiration to younger players. Kostyuk added that competing against her compatriot in such an important match was special and thanked Svitolina for the high-quality contest.The victory marks another major achievement for Kostyuk, who is enjoying the best Grand Slam run of her career. She now prepares for a semi-final showdown against Mirra Andreeva. She will aim to reach her first major final.