Marta Kostyuk continued her breakthrough Wimbledon run with a resounding straight-sets win over former finalist Jasmine Paolini to reach the semi-finals.
The Ukrainian 12th seed was in control throughout the majority of her 6-3, 6-2 win over an error-stricken Paolini, who was playing a top 20 player for only the second time this season. Kosyuk, who came into this year’s tournament having not won a match on grass for two years, is enjoying a standout year on the Tour. She has now won 27 Tour-level matches in 2026, of which 16 were on clay.
Kostyuk’s lack of recent experience on grass failed to hinder her against Paolini as she charged through the opening set. Her first offensive occurred in the fifth game when she fired back-to-back forehand winners to break for a 3-2 lead. At one stage, she won eight points in a row and had two break point opportunities for a 5-2 lead but failed to convert them. Despite the blip, she broke two games later to clinch the opener.
The 24-year-old continued to capitalise on her rival’s mistakes. Paolini produced 26 unforced errors, 13 in each set, and only won nine out of 22 points behind her second serve. Kostyuk ended up closing out the match by winning six of the last seven games contested in what was a dominant display.
“Thank God my coach made me walk here yesterday. I was flabbergasted by this entrance and everything inside,” Kostyuk said of playing on Centre Court.
“I was on this court as a spectator once, nine years ago, watching Roger (Federer). It was super special to be back here as a player.”
It is the second Grand Slam in a row where Kostyuk has reached the semi-final stage. She is only the second player from her country – male or female – to play a Grand Slam quarter-final on all three surfaces after Elina Svitolina. Svitolina is also the only other player from Ukraine to reach a Wimbledon semi-final.
In the last four, Kostyuk will lock horns with Linda Noskova, who has become the youngest women’s semi-finalist since Jelena Ostapenko in 2018 and the youngest Czech since Petra Kvitova in 2011. The ninth seed defeated an injured Elise Mertens 6-3, 7-5. Mertens took a medical timeout during the early stages of the second set for treatment on the lower part of her left leg, which she had taped up.
“The feelings are incredible,” Nosková said after her win.
“I was a little bit nervous before the match. Usually when it’s really important for me and I’m putting pressure on myself, that’s when I play my best.
“It means I care a lot I thought for the mistakes I made, I kept cool.”
The win continues Noskova’s strong run on the grass this year where she has won nine out of 10 matches played, winning the Berlin Open last month. It is the first time she has reached the last four of a major event in her 16th appearance.
Kostyuk will be playing Noskova for the second time this year. In April, she defeated the Czech 7-6(1), 6-0 in the quarter-finals of the Madrid Open where she went on to capture her first WTA 1000 title.
“Marta is an incredible player. We’ve had a few matches now but it will be a battle.” Noskova commented.
Kostyuk, who has lost only one of her last 22 matches, will make her top 10 debut next week.
