French Open 2026: How Ukraine-Russia tension hangs over Roland Garros semi-finals

Shnaider also refused to speak about the war or her feelings towards it – leading to more criticism from Kostyuk.

“They are all grown-ups. They know what they’re talking about. They know what’s going on. They have phones. They have Instagram. They have news. They are clearly aware of what’s going on,” said Kostyuk.

“I don’t know how you can sleep at night peacefully when you know that this is going on and you have nothing to say about it.”

Kostyuk has dedicated each of her Roland Garros victories to her nation.

While acknowledging she is privileged to have a career which means she spends a lot of time away from Ukraine, Kostyuk has regularly spoken about how the suffering felt by people back home fuels her motivation to succeed.

“This desire comes from there being no other options, when you have war behind your courtyard and you know sport in particular is the only way to escape that,” said Slovakian former world number five Daniela Hantuchova on BBC Radio 5 Live.

With Shnaider facing Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska in the other semi-final, the geographical spread of this year’s women’s semi-finalists is remarkably concentrated.

Each player has their own individual back story, but Hantuchova believes there is a shared mentality which helps players from those countries to defy the odds against them.

“You don’t question anything you are told to do to get where you want to,” Hantuchova said.

“The starting point creates this incredible hunger and willingness to do whatever it takes.”

That resilience has been demonstrated by all four semi-finalists, who have seized their chance in a wide-open draw in Paris.

Whoever manages to maintain their focus best over the next three days will become a first-time Grand Slam champion, which few predicted three weeks ago.