The Madrid Open women’s singles semifinals delivered drama on and off the court late last night. Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva survived a tense second-set tiebreak to book her spot in the final, while Ukrainian player Marta Kostyuk refused to shake hands after her victory, reigniting debates over political stances in tennis.
Andreeva, who celebrated her 19th birthday just days ago, faced American Hailey Baptiste, the tournament’s biggest surprise after saving six match points against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka earlier in the week. The young Russian had been in strong form, reaching the semifinals in Stuttgart and Madrid, and was widely favored to advance.
The turning point came in the second set. Andreeva held a match point but couldn’t close it out, forcing a tiebreak. She quickly fell behind 0-4, a scenario that has often led to her collapse in the past. However, what she revealed after the match was unexpected. “Honestly, when I was down in the tiebreak, I suddenly thought of a post-match tweet from the WTA or Tennis Channel: ‘EPIC COMEBACK,’” Andreeva said with a laugh. “I told myself, ‘Mira, please don’t let this happen!’”
Instead of panicking, she refocused. “I forced myself to stay calm and make her earn every point. If she wanted to win the set, she had to take it with her own shot-making.” That mental shift proved crucial. Andreeva saved three set points and eventually won the tiebreak 8-6, clinching the match in straight sets.
Off the court, Andreeva shared a lighter moment. Her agent surprised her with high heels for her birthday, and she joked, “I even filmed myself walking in them. I’ll wear them somewhere nice next week.”
Across the net, a very different story unfolded. Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk defeated Varvara Gracheva, who now represents Austria after switching nationality from Russia, with a score of 6-2, 1-6, 6-1. The match ended on a double fault by Gracheva, and she immediately walked off court without any handshake or acknowledgment.
Kostyuk had stated before the match that she would only shake hands with Daria Kasatkina, because Kasatkina was the only Russian player to publicly oppose the war. With Gracheva having changed nationality but not made a similar statement, Kostyuk’s stance remained firm.
The decision sparked mixed reactions. While some praised her moral conviction, others argued that Gracheva had already distanced herself from Russia by switching federations and should not be punished. The debate highlights how deeply the conflict has divided the tennis world.
The final will now feature two contrasting philosophies: Andreeva, the carefree teenager playing for herself, and Kostyuk, the warrior carrying a heavy burden. Their clash in Madrid promises to be as compelling off the court as on it.