Sawt Falasteen - 'Stars align' as Russians reach final of Olympic tennis doubles

They defeated Cristina Bucsa and Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain 6-1, 6-2 and will face Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini of Italy for gold.

Andreeva, 17, and 20-year-old Shnaider are playing their first event as a team and are guaranteed at least silver -- it won't though be recognised in the medals table because of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

They knocked out defending Olympic champions and second seeds Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova in the quarter-finals. In four rounds they have yet to drop a set.

"It's our first Olympics, our first tournament as a pair and we are playing the final," said Andreeva, the youngest woman to make an Olympic doubles final.

"We have a medal already, so that's something great. I think the stars are aligned perfectly for us."

Andreeva and Shnaider are both top 25 players in singles.

Andreeva made her breakthrough at Roland Garros in 2023 when she reached the third round of the French Open from qualifying at the age of 16.

At this year's French Open, she was the youngest player to reach the semi-finals in 27 years.

"Silver is never enough for an athlete, so we're going to go for it," said Andreeva.

Shnaider arrived in Paris having won a third singles title in Budapest on the eve of the Olympics.

"When I knew that I had a chance to play in the Olympics, I was, 'Please, I want to play with Mirra'. It's worked out perfectly," she said.

Earlier Friday, Viyaleta Bardzilouskaya from Belarus won silver in trampolining.

Athletes from Russia and ally Belarus were banned from world sport following the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

But the IOC has overseen their gradual return under a neutral banner, under strict conditions.

To be invited to the Games, "neutral individual athletes" who achieved good enough results to qualify had to pass a double check.

The international sports federations and the IOC verified that the competitors did not actively support the war in Ukraine or have any links with their countries' armies.

They were not allowed to take part in the opening ceremony or compete under their national flags.

If they make the podium, their achievements are not recognised in the medals table.

G.AbuGhazaleh--SF-PST