PARIS (AP) — Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva thumped veteran Sorana Cirstea 6-0, 6-3 at the French Open on Tuesday and set up a semifinal against an Ukrainian rival.
Andreeva will take on the winner of the all-Ukrainian contest between Elina Svitolina and Marta Kostyuk, who is undefeated on clay this season.
When Kostyuk beat Andreeva in the Madrid final a month ago, she didn’t shake her hand at the net. That’s been the protocol for Ukrainian players with opponents from Russia and its ally Belarus since the war started.
“Well, for me it doesn’t matter who I play,” Andreeva said when asked about the challenges of playing a Ukrainian player in the context of the four-year ongoing war between the neighboring countries.
“I really try to play against the ball that is coming at me," she added. "Usually it doesn’t matter to me who I’m playing against, so I’m trying to really focus on the game and on the game plan that I have to use on the court.”
After a week of hot weather, rain arrived in Paris and play started under the closed roof of Court Philippe-Chatrier. Competing in the quarterfinals for the first time in 17 years, Cirstea struggled to find her rhythm against her 19-year-old rival.
The 36-year-old veteran from Romania, playing the final season of her career, immediately dropped her serve. She was broken again in her next service game as the eighth-seeded Andreeva punished a weak delivery with a forehand return winner to open a 3-0 lead.
The Russian was in total control, securing another break of serve before comfortably holding to wrap up the opening set.
Cirstea, seeded 18th, finally got on the board by holding for 1-0 in the second set when Andreeva’s backhand sailed long. She then began to move Andreeva around more effectively with greater variety in her shot-making, while cutting down on unforced errors.
But Andreeva’s deep, accurate groundstrokes and charges to the net took a toll on Cirstea, who dropped her serve again in the fifth game. She managed to break back in the next game, yet the improvement was short-lived, as Andreeva broke again twice to close out the match.
“I felt like it was one of my best matches so far this tournament,” said Andreeva, two years after reaching her first Grand Slam semifinal. “Super happy to be back in semis.”
In men's play, up-and-coming Rafael Jodar of Spain faces a tall order against second-seeded Alexander Zverev. Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic takes on Joao Fonseca of Brazil in the night session.
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Please purchase a Premium Subscription to continue reading.
To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account.
We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription.
A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means you’re helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much!
Only subscribers can view and post comments on articles.
Already a subscriber? Login Here
Amy Sousa, a women's rights activist and psychologist, Keith Lierre, founder of Women's Libe… Read moreTalk at RWC Library - The transgender assault on Women and Girls
Join the San Mateo Daily Journal in Fiesta Hall at the Community Expo at the San Mateo County Fair! Read moreSan Mateo Community Expo at the Fair
CA Is Burning said:
DavidKristofferson said:
Dirk van Ulden said:
Dirk van Ulden said:
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
Error! There was an error processing your request.
Sorry, an error occurred.
Already Subscribed!
Cancel anytime
Thank you .
Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.
Check your email for details.
Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.
An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account.
No promotional rates found.
Secure & Encrypted
Thank you.
Your gift purchase was successful! Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.
| Rate: | |
| Begins: | |
| Transaction ID: |
A receipt was sent to your email.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.