India, June 6 -- The Roland Garros semi-final between Marta Kostyuk and Mirra Andreeva was flatter than expected but was always loaded with meaning. Ukrainian Kostyuk had made three WTA finals this year, winning two. In both, she defeated Russian Andreeva on her way to the title, on the Brisbane hard courts in January and then on Madrid clay at the start of May.

In the run up to Roland Garros, Kostyuk had overtaken Andreeva as the brightest female talent on tour, had not lost a match on clay in the season and was stamping her presence on and off the court. But on Thursday evening, Andreeva ensured that in the biggest match of her career, it could not be said that Kostyuk had a number on her.

Their rivalry was not merely tennis over the ...