Red-hot Kostyuk sinks Svitolina to reach first-ever Grand Slam semi-final

[p]The ‌23-year-old [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kostyuk-marta/8CZqQdSa/"]Kostyuk[/a] dedicated [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/kostyuk-m-8CZqQdSa/svitolina-e-jyngIesG/?mid=QqE92fyn"]her victory[/a] to the ‌Ukrainian people as tears rolled down her cheeks ‌during the on-court interview.[/p][p][b]"I want to start with ‌this historical match I played with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/monfils-elina/jyngIesG/"]Elina[/a]. We had a difficult night in Kyiv, so many people ‌dead. So I give this match ⁠to the Ukrainian ‌people and their resilience. Slava Ukraini,"[/b] the 15th seed ​said.[/p][p][b]"I want to point out Elina and her impact on Ukrainian tennis, on ​me and on everyone watching. She's an unbelievable fighter. I'm so happy to be through, ⁠but I want ​to thank her for this incredible match."[/b][/p][embed guid="95fe7788-9665-42ce-b527-cc6d7ddac248" url="https://x.com/rolandgarros/status/2061786072464368124" social-type="twitter" /][p]Kostyuk surged into a 4-1 lead under the closed roof of Court Philippe Chatrier before Svitolina clawed a ‌break back in front of a sparse crowd.[/p][p]But Kostyuk broke again to move 5-3 ahead and sealed the opening set when seventh seed Svitolina sent a forehand long.[/p][p]The momentum shifted in the second set as Kostyuk's serve deserted her, allowing Svitolina, who has now lost in the quarter-finals at Roland Garros for the ‌sixth time, to level the contest.[/p][image alt="Key match stats" id="634a0dd8-3893-4278-a67e-d59a39b51511" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="074d2928-5e54-486b-b25d-200c31441d4a" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]The decider ​turned into a tense scrap, with the first ‌five games going against serve.[/p][p]Pointing her index finger to her head after finally holding for a 4-2 lead, Kostyuk steadied herself before another break and a comfortable hold ⁠secured victory and ⁠a last-four clash with ‌Russia's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/andreeva-mirra/lI6fOOat/"]Mirra Andreeva[/a].[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/tennis/wta-singles/french-open/"]Follow the women's side at Roland Garros here.[/a][/b][/p]