Russia’s Mirra Andreeva in action during her quarter final match against Romania’s Sorana Cirstea on June 2, 2026.
| Photo Credit: Reuters
Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva returned to the French Open semi-finals with a 6-0 6-3 win over Romanian veteran Sorana Cirstea on a rainy Tuesday (June 2, 2026) to continue her run in a Roland Garros draw stripped of many big names. Now among the leading contenders for a maiden Grand Slam title with defending champion Coco Gauff and four-times winner Iga Swiatek out, the Russian will next face the winner of the all-Ukrainian clash between Elina Svitolina and Marta Kostyuk.
The 19-year-old wasted little time asserting herself in front of a sparse crowd beneath the Court Philippe Chatrier roof, racing through the opening set in 24 minutes. Cirstea, playing her third Grand Slam quarter-final in her final year on the circuit, steadied herself early in the second set and recovered a break at 3-3, but the 36-year-old could not halt the Andreeva juggernaut.
Andreeva, who reached the semi-finals two years ago, forced an error from Cirstea’s racket to break again and she closed out the victory with a forehand bullet, before walking to the net to give her beaten opponent a warm hug.
Published – June 02, 2026 05:12 pm IST
