Marta Kostyuk beats Jasmine Paolini 6-3 6-2 to reach first Wimbledon semifinal

Marta Kostyuk made her intentions clear from the first point. She broke Jasmine Paolini in the opening game and kept the Italian under constant pressure with deep, heavy groundstrokes that skidded low on the grass.

Aachal Maniyar
Published8 Jul 2026, 08:20 PM IST
Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk celebrates winning against Italy's Jasmine Paolini during their women's singles quarter-final tennis match of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London.
Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk celebrates winning against Italy's Jasmine Paolini during their women's singles quarter-final tennis match of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London.(AFP)

Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk produced a near-perfect display to beat 2024 runner-up Jasmine Paolini and reach her first Wimbledon semifinal. The 12th seed needed just 69 minutes to win 6-3, 6-2 on Centre Court, extending her superb form to 21 wins in the last 22 matches.

The victory gives Kostyuk a second consecutive Grand Slam semifinal and sets up a thrilling last-four clash against ninth seed Linda Noskova.

Dominant start gives Marta Kostyuk early control

Marta Kostyuk made her intentions clear from the first point. She broke Jasmine Paolini in the opening game and kept the Italian under constant pressure with deep, heavy groundstrokes that skidded low on the grass.

Paolini, who reached the Wimbledon final in 2024, struggled to find her rhythm. Unforced errors crept into her game as Kostyuk’s aggressive baseline play forced her into uncomfortable positions. The Ukrainian closed the first set 6-3 after 38 minutes and carried the same intensity into the second.

By the middle of the second set, the match was effectively over. Kostyuk broke again to lead 4-2 and served out the contest with composure. The 1-hour-9-minute masterclass was one of the most complete performances of the tournament so far.

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Remarkable form carries Ukrainian into last four

What stands out most about Marta Kostyuk’s run is the consistency. Winning 21 of 22 matches is exceptional at this level. She has mixed powerful serving with smart point construction and has looked increasingly comfortable on grass, a surface that rewards players who can take the ball early and dictate rallies.

Centre Court can overwhelm even experienced players, yet Kostyuk handled the occasion with maturity. Every time Paolini tried to mount a comeback, the Ukrainian responded with a timely winner or a forcing shot that pinned her opponent behind the baseline. This mental strength, combined with her current physical form, has turned her into one of the most dangerous players left in the draw.

Historic milestone for Marta Kostyuk and Ukrainian tennis

Reaching the Wimbledon semifinals for the first time is a major breakthrough. Marta Kostyuk has steadily improved her ranking and results over the past two seasons, but this run on the biggest stage of all confirms she now belongs among the elite.

For Ukrainian tennis the achievement carries extra significance. Kostyuk has become a symbol of resilience, and her continued success provides inspiration back home. A place in the final would be the biggest result of her career and would further cement her status as the country’s leading player.

Also Read | Sinner dashes Struff's maiden Grand Slam dreams at at Wimbledon 2026

Jasmine Paolini’s early exit ends title hopes

Jasmine Paolini arrived at Wimbledon with genuine hopes of going deep again after her previous final appearance. Instead, she ran into a player at the peak of her powers. Paolini fought hard in patches but was second best in almost every department on the day.

The Italian will be disappointed with the manner of the defeat, yet she remains a top-level competitor who has already achieved more than most in recent seasons. She will now turn her attention to the North American hard-court swing and look to rebuild momentum.

About the Author

Aachal Maniyar is a Senior Content Producer at LiveMint, where she covers US sports with a focus on major leagues, marquee events, and athlete-driven stories, while also reporting extensively on cricket and global sports. With over five years of first-hand journalism experience, she combines sharp editorial judgment with real-time sports storytelling across platforms. <br><br> Her reporting journey spans leading newsrooms including Thomson Reuters, India TV, BTVI, ET NOW, and CNBC TV18, where she has worked across breaking news, live match coverage, feature writing, interviews, video scripting, and anchoring. This multi-platform exposure has shaped her ability to deliver context-rich sports and business journalism tailored for both television and digital audiences. <br><br> Aachal has conducted and produced exclusive interviews with athletes and public figures such as India cricketer Dhruv Jurel, Indian women’s hockey captain Savita Punia, and industrialist Ratan Tata, along with several emerging and established sports personalities. Her body of work includes in-depth explainers, athlete profiles, emotionally resonant fan narratives, and data-backed match analysis across cricket, Olympic sports, and international competitions. <br><br> She holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune, and believes in reporting that is grounded in accuracy, clarity, and credibility. Her philosophy is simple: sports journalism should go beyond scores and statistics, capturing the human stories, pressure moments, and decisions that shape the game and the people who play it.

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