Marta Kostyuk reaches Madrid final after defeating Potapova in three-set battle

Key facts

• Marta Kostyuk defeated Anastasia Potapova 6-2, 1-6, 6-1 in the Madrid semifinal.
• Kostyuk improved to 10-0 on clay this season after winning the Rouen title earlier this month.
• She is the only player in both draws to reach the Madrid semifinal without dropping a set.
• Kostyuk refused to shake hands with Potapova, citing Potapova's lack of public opposition to the war in Ukraine.
• In the third set, Potapova's boyfriend Tallon Griekspoor was heard urging her, leading to a tense exchange.
• Kostyuk will face Mirra Andreeva, a 19-year-old Russian, in the final on Saturday.
• Kostyuk leads Andreeva 1-1 in head-to-head, having won their last meeting in Madrid last year.

A dominant run continues

Marta Kostyuk extended her clay-court winning streak to 10 matches on Thursday night, defeating lucky loser Anastasia Potapova 6-2, 1-6, 6-1 to reach the final of the Mutua Madrid Open. The Ukrainian, seeded No. 26, has not lost a set in the tournament, a feat unmatched by any player in either the women's or men's draw. Her victory sets up a final against Mirra Andreeva, the No. 9 seed from Russia, scheduled for Saturday afternoon on Manolo Santana Stadium. Kostyuk's run in Madrid follows her title in Rouen earlier this month, cementing her status as one of the most formidable players on clay this season. She has yet to drop a set in five matches, though the semifinal was far from straightforward.

A match of three one-sided sets

The semifinal was a strange, lopsided affair, with each set dominated by one player. Kostyuk took the first set 6-2, breaking Potapova's serve three times. Potapova responded by winning the second set 6-1, playing the aggressive tennis that had carried her through the week. In the deciding set, Kostyuk regained control, winning 6-1 as Potapova's game unraveled. Kostyuk's earlier quarterfinal against No. 13 seed Linda Noskova was similarly dramatic. After dropping the first two games, Kostyuk rallied to win the first-set tiebreak 7-1 and then blanked Noskova 6-0 in the second set. The match lasted 1 hour and 27 minutes in windy, cold conditions. "Conditions were incredibly difficult for both of us," Kostyuk said. "It was very windy, very cold and I felt like we started to gain some (momentum) only towards the end of the first set."

Tension in the stands and on court

The semifinal was notable not only for the tennis but for an exchange between Potapova and her boyfriend, Dutch world No. 25 Tallon Griekspoor. During the third set, Griekspoor could be heard from the players' box urging Potapova. "Keep pushing. You're right there," he said. Potapova replied, "Do you see the scoreboard?" at 2-0. Later, Griekspoor said, "You need to believe in yourself," to which Potapova responded, "I do." Griekspoor countered, "You don't." Kostyuk won the third set 6-1. Kostyuk had confirmed before the match that she would not shake hands with Potapova, despite Potapova having switched her nationality from Russia to Austria in December. "The only person I shake hands with is Daria Kasatkina," Kostyuk said, "because not only did she change her passport, she also openly said she does not support the war." There was no handshake at the net.

Numbers and context

Kostyuk's clay-court record this season stands at 10-0, including her title in Rouen. She is the only player in the Madrid Open, across both singles draws, to reach the semifinal without conceding a set. In her quarterfinal against Noskova, Kostyuk saved 4 of 5 break points while converting 4 of 18, a statistic that underscores her ability to win key points under pressure. Potapova, a lucky loser, had upset Elena Rybakina in the quarterfinals and was seeking her first WTA 1000 final. Her path to the semifinal included a three-set win over Karolina Pliskova, where she came back from 3-1 down in the decider.

The final: Kostyuk vs. Andreeva

Kostyuk will face Mirra Andreeva, a 19-year-old Russian who defeated Hailey Baptiste in the other semifinal. Andreeva, the No. 9 seed, won the Linz title earlier this year. The two players have met twice before, with the head-to-head tied at 1-1. Their most recent encounter was in Madrid last year, where Kostyuk won 6-3, 6-2. Andreeva is one of the tournament favorites, along with Baptiste, who beat Aryna Sabalenka, and Potapova. But Kostyuk's form on clay makes her a formidable opponent. "Don't overlook Kostyuk," analysts have noted, pointing to her unbeaten streak and set record.

Stakes and outlook

Saturday's final is Kostyuk's first at a WTA 1000 event. A win would be the biggest title of her career and extend her clay-court winning streak to 11 matches. For Andreeva, a victory would mark a breakthrough at the highest level. The match is scheduled for the afternoon session on Manolo Santana Stadium. Kostyuk's refusal to shake hands with Russian opponents has become a consistent stance, drawing attention to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Her position has been clear: she will only shake hands with players who have publicly opposed the war, such as Daria Kasatkina. The final against Andreeva, who has not made such a statement, is likely to see a similar gesture.

The bottom line

• Marta Kostyuk is unbeaten on clay this season, with a 10-0 record including the Rouen title and a run to the Madrid final without dropping a set.
• Kostyuk defeated Anastasia Potapova in a three-set semifinal marked by a tense exchange between Potapova and her boyfriend.
• Kostyuk refused to shake hands with Potapova, reiterating her policy of only shaking hands with players who publicly oppose the war in Ukraine.
• Kostyuk will face Mirra Andreeva in the final, with the head-to-head tied at 1-1.
• Saturday's final is Kostyuk's first at a WTA 1000 event, with a chance to win the biggest title of her career.