Marta Kostyuk lost to Mirra Andreeva in straight sets — 1:6, 3:6 — and completed her run at Roland Garros 2025. For Kostyuk, this was the first Grand Slam semifinal of her career. She reached it by defeating Elina Svitolina in the quarterfinals — the only match between the two Ukrainian players at the tournament.
A score that needs no commentary
The first set lasted less than half an hour: 1:6. Kostyuk played more steadily in the second set, but 3:6 confirmed the class difference on this particular clay surface. The 20-year-old Andreeva plays on clay with a confidence that Kostyuk was unable to neutralize on this day.
"Neutral" — a word that means different things depending on where you stand
Andreeva competes under the white WTA flag as an "Individual Neutral Athlete" — an official category introduced after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It does not grant the right to compete for a national team and removes state symbols, but it does raise a question: what exactly is being neutralized?
Kostyuk has repeatedly refused to shake hands with Russian and Belarusian players after matches — and has explained this publicly. Her position is unwavering: neutral status is an administrative decision, not a moral one. After today's match, this position becomes visible again — although the court is not the place for these discussions, and the players themselves do not debate there.
"I have nothing against them as people. But I cannot pretend that nothing is happening"
Marta Kostyuk — in previous interviews about her refusal to shake hands
The WTA does not fine this behavior. The ITF and Grand Slam tournaments maintain neutrality in post-match ceremonial matters — handshakes are a recommendation, not a rule with sanctions.
What's next for Andreeva
In the final, Andreeva will face the winner of the Diana Schneider vs. Maya Hvalinska match. If Hvalinska wins — another "neutral" athlete — the Roland Garros 2025 final will take place without any FIFA or IOC flag, but with two passports from the same country.
- Kostyuk — first Grand Slam semifinal of her career
- Andreeva, 20 years old — youngest Roland Garros finalist since 2001
- Both potential finalists compete under a neutral flag
The question is not whether Kostyuk lost fairly — the score speaks for itself. The question is different: if "neutral" status provides no real restrictions on a player's career and no consequences for the federations of the aggressor country — what exactly does it neutralize? The WTA has yet to answer this publicly and specifically.
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