Marta Kostyuk has taken full advantage of a ravaged Madrid Open draw, making her way to her maiden WTA 1000 final.
It has been a fairytale story for the Ukrainian, but those who have been following her career should not be surprised.
After all, this is a 23-year-old brimming with talent, and having won a title in Rouen right before heading to Madrid, she is dangerously in form too.
However, Kostyuk faces a stern test against Mirra Andreeva in the final, and speaking to the press, has been previewing her clash with the Russian teenager.
Marta Kostyuk previews her Madrid Open final against Mirra Andreeva
She began by discussing the difference between the two finals she will have played in the last month, from Rouen to Madrid.
Kostyuk admitted: “I think it’s a little bit different finals. Different opponents, different conditions as well, entirely different tournament.”
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She argued that the toughest part of these events comes far earlier than the showpiece final, adding: “I was the most nervous probably before my quarterfinals match because it felt like I’m very close to the end of the tournament, but yet I’m actually still just in the middle, just the last players left. Yeah, I battled through that in my head.
“Even today, when I was down I was just supporting myself, and really just tried to enjoy the moment of being in the semifinals of one of the biggest tournaments on tour. I want to do the same on Saturday, because at the end of the day, no matter how this match turns around, I made the finals.”
Then asked for a fitness update, Kostyuk replied: “I think it’s up and down. Obviously, end of the week, so I don’t think anyone feels super fresh. I think it’s normal. I think the most important thing is just how you handle it, and that’s what makes a difference.
“I think I did really well today, especially that comeback in the third set. And, you know, just all that matters is the same thing going into Saturday.”
She concluded by assessing Andreeva’s game: “I’m excited for the final, because it’s a final, at the end of the day. She’s a very solid player, a very hard hitter, more like she has a very big serve. So, you know, I’m excited for that. I don’t know, I think it’s really different conditions.”
Marion Bartoli called for a rule change after what happened in Andreeva’s Madrid Open semi-final.
Marta Kostyuk’s road to the Madrid Open final
On paper, Kostyuk has done well to avoid most of the sport’s very best players during her run to the Madrid Open final.
However, she can only beat what was put in front of her, and thus far, that’s exactly what she has done.
The youngster kick-started her campaign in the Spanish capital with a routine win over Yulia Putintseva, before earning her biggest scalp of the tournament so far, beating Jessica Pegula with similar ease.
Do you think Mirra Andreeva is more likely to win the French Open than Iga Swiatek?
Mirra Andreeva is into the Madrid Open final…
Next came Caty McNally and Linda Noskova, both of whom were swiftly dispatched, with Kostyuk reacting well in her semi-final against Anastasia Potapova, bouncing back from dropping her first set at the tournament.
Now, Andreeva awaits in Saturday’s final, standing between her and the biggest title of her career.
