Doubles partners Diana Shnaider and Mirra Andreeva could meet in the 2026 French Open women’s singles final.
Shnaider stunned Aryna Sabalenka in her quarter-final match, the day after Andreeva defeated Sorana Cirstea in hers.
To advance to the final, Shnaider will need to take down the Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska, and Andreeva will need to beat Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk.
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Ahead of their potential final, Shnaider has shared what her relationship with Andreeva is really like.
Diana Shnaider says she has a good relationship with Mirra Andreeva off the court
During her latest post-match press conference, Shnaider was asked about the prospect of playing her doubles partner in the Roland Garros final.
“Well, we’ve got to win tomorrow!” she said.
“So I’m not thinking too much about it.”
Shnaider continued, reflecting on the success she and Andreeva have achieved in doubles together.
“Obviously, with Mirra [Andreeva], we’ve had some deep runs here, last year, and the Australian Open,” she said.
“But, for sure, singles feels so much different from doubles because in doubles you kind of share your success together, but here, it’s only you, your success with your team.
“So it definitely feels more special, especially for the first time, so yeah, I’m very happy with what’s happening.”
Andreeva and Shnaider have won two WTA 1000 doubles titles together and won Olympic silver in Paris two years ago.
They enjoy each other’s company, but Shnaider insists their rivalry is competitive.
“Yeah, we’re very good on and off the court,” said Shnaider.
“I feel like even if we play each other in singles, we’re super good.
“Yes, we have a good relationship off the court, but if we are playing each other, we both want to win.”
The Russians will be desperate to win should they face off in the French Open final, but who has had the better of their rivalry so far?
Mirra Andreeva is 2-0 against Diana Shnaider
Andreeva and Shnaider have played two WTA Tour matches.
They first met at the 2024 Brisbane International, a match Andreeva won comfortably, 6-2, 6-3.
Shnaider was looking for revenge when they played each other again in Australia, earlier this year, but it wasn’t to be.
Over in Adelaide, Andreeva won 6-3, 6-2 to book her place in the final.
It is, however, important to note that Andreeva and Shnaider have never met on clay.
Now, that might not be good news for Shnaider, given how well Andreeva has played on the surface this year, but it’s still something to think about…
Every All-Russian Grand Slam final in tennis history
Andreeva and Shnaider could contest an all-Russian Grand Slam final on Saturday, following in some fairly legendary footsteps.
Anastasia Myskina and Elena Dementieva played each other in the 2004 French Open final, 22 years ago.
Both players walked on court with the opportunity to become Russia’s first-ever Grand Slam singles champion.
It was Myskina who grabbed that opportunity with both hands, delivering a dominant performance in Paris.
- 2004 French Open F – Anastasia Myskina defeated Elena Dementieva, 6-1, 6-2
Russia didn’t have to wait long for another Grand Slam win as Maria Sharapova won Wimbledon before they locked out another final, in New York.
Dementieva qualified for her second Slam final of the season, where she met Svetlana Kuznetsova.
Again, Dementieva fell short, although she put up more of a fight than she did at Roland Garros.
- 2004 US Open F – Svetlana Kuznetsova defeated Elena Dementieva, 6-3, 7-5
The most recent all-Russian Grand Slam final occurred in 2009.
Kuznetsova returned, taking on her countrywoman, Dinara Safina, in Paris.
Doubling her major tally, Kuznetsova lifted the title following another straight-sets win.
- 2009 French Open F – Svetlana Kuznetsova defeated Dinara Safina, 6-4, 6-2
Shnaider and Andreeva could well add their names to this list by the end of the week…
They will play their semi-final matches on Thursday, June 4.
