Marta Kostyuk Refuses Handshake After Reaching Madrid Open Final

Key facts

• Marta Kostyuk beat Anastasia Potapova 6-2 1-6 6-1 in the semifinals.
• Kostyuk refused to shake Potapova's hand after the match.
• Mirra Andreeva defeated Hailey Baptiste 6-4 7-6 (10-8) to reach her first Madrid Open final.
• Andreeva, 19, is the second-youngest finalist in tournament history.
• Andreeva has won 12 of 13 clay-court matches this season, including the Linz title.
• Kostyuk advanced to her first WTA 1000 final.
• The final is scheduled for Saturday.

A Semifinal Marked by Tension

Marta Kostyuk, the 26th seed from Ukraine, defeated lucky loser Anastasia Potapova 6-2, 1-6, 6-1 in a semifinal that ended without a handshake. After closing out the match, Kostyuk walked to the net but refused to shake Potapova's hand, a gesture that underscored the ongoing tensions between Ukrainian and Russian athletes. The match itself was an error-strewn affair. Kostyuk seized two breaks to win the first set, but Potapova dominated the second, leveling the match in just 30 minutes. In the decider, Kostyuk raced to a 4-0 lead and held on to secure her place in the final.

Andreeva's Gritty Victory

Earlier, ninth seed Mirra Andreeva overcame a spirited challenge from Hailey Baptiste, winning 6-4, 7-6 (10-8) to reach her first Madrid Open final. The 19-year-old Russian, who turned 19 earlier this week, served for the match at 5-4 in the second set but was broken by Baptiste, who then forced a tiebreak. Baptiste, the 30th seed who had upset world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the previous round, saved three set points before Andreeva finally clinched the win. 'Honestly, I feel so much adrenaline inside. I feel like I'm still nervous. I'm just so happy that I won and that I was able to save all those set points,' Andreeva said.

A Clash of Surging Talents

Since the clay season began, both finalists have been on an upward trajectory. Andreeva has won 12 of her 13 clay-court matches, taking the title in Linz and reaching the semifinals in Stuttgart. She becomes the first teenager to reach three WTA 1000 finals and is the second-youngest finalist in Madrid Open history, behind only Caroline Wozniacki. Kostyuk, 23, is playing in her first WTA 1000 final. Her path included a three-set victory over Potapova, a Russian-born player who entered the tournament as a lucky loser. The Ukrainian's refusal to shake hands highlighted the political undercurrents that have shadowed encounters between Ukrainian and Russian players since the invasion of Ukraine.

Men's Tournament: Upsets and Semifinalists

In the men's draw, defending champion Casper Ruud was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Belgian qualifier Alexander Blockx, 6-4, 6-4. Blockx, 21, who broke into the top 100 for the first time last month and is now at a career-high 69th, has knocked out four consecutive seeds, including third-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime. He will face Alexander Zverev in his first tour-level semifinal. Zverev, a two-time Madrid champion, dispatched Italian 10th seed Flavio Cobolli 6-1, 6-4, avenging a loss to Cobolli in the Munich final 12 days ago. The German has now reached the semifinals in seven of his past eight Masters 1000 tournaments. Top seed Jannik Sinner will face 21st seed Arthur Fils in the other semifinal after both won their quarterfinals on Wednesday.

What Lies Ahead

Saturday's final will see Andreeva and Kostyuk meet for the first time on the WTA tour. Andreeva, buoyed by her recent clay-court success, will aim to add a WTA 1000 title to her growing resume. Kostyuk, seeking her first title at this level, will look to carry her momentum from a week that included a win over Potapova and a refusal to shake hands that may resonate beyond the court. The match promises to be a compelling contrast: Andreeva's explosive power and confidence against Kostyuk's resilience and tactical acumen. Both players have shown they can handle pressure, setting the stage for a potentially memorable final.

The bottom line

• Marta Kostyuk will face Mirra Andreeva in the Madrid Open final after both won their semifinals on Thursday.
• Kostyuk refused to shake hands with Russian-born opponent Anastasia Potapova, highlighting political tensions.
• Andreeva, 19, is the second-youngest finalist in tournament history and has won 12 of 13 clay-court matches this season.
• In the men's tournament, defending champion Casper Ruud was upset by qualifier Alexander Blockx.
• Alexander Zverev and Jannik Sinner are among the men's semifinalists, with Zverev seeking his third Madrid title.