Wimbledon 2026 Women’s Day 10

Marta Kostyuk fulfilled a dream as she played and won her first Wimbledon match on Centre Court on Wednesday, reaching a breakthrough semi-final 6-3, 6-2 over Jasmine Paolini.

The 13th-ranked Ukrainian duplicated the defeat of compatriot Elina Svitolina who reached the final four here in 2019 and 2023.

Kostyuk said she she got slightly acquainted with the iconic high temple of tennis the day before and had only once sat in the stands nine years ago during a Roger Federer match.

“Hello Centre Court,” the winner said. “This is my first time playing on this unbelievable court. It’s a dream coming true to win – that was not in the plans.”

Kostyuk, winner of 21 of her last 22 matches, reached a second consecutive Grand Slam semi after a similar final four showing last month at Roland Garros.

“My coach made me walk the court yesterday. I was flabbergasted by what I saw. I took a moment to soak it all in.

“I’m so happy to be back here as a player.”

Kostyuk earned her 69-minute victory in 32 Celsius heatwave temperatures. “I’m sure people in London are happy with the weather, but not us here on court,” she said.

“I have to come back and play on Thursday but I’m excited about that.”

Kostyuk finished with 19 winners and the same number of unforced errors as she broke 2024 finalist Paolini four times while never facing one herself.

She will bid for the final with a semi against 21-year-old Czech Linda Noskova, who defeated veteran Belgian Elise Mertens  6-3, 7-5.

Noskova, ranked 12th, showed few nerves as she won her 11th grass match of a dozen played this summer.

The winner becomes the youngest Wimbledon semi-finalist since Jelena Ostapenko in 2018.

She owns June’s grass title in Berlin, second trophy performance of her career and claimed doubles honours for good measure.

Noskova clinched victory as Mertens put a return out on the first of three Czech match points.

The winner said that overcoming pre-match nerves always helps her to pay better.

“When I’m feeling pressure it helps me to play my best. The nerves mean that I care a lot.”

Noskova swept the opening set and earned a break for 6-5 before serving out the quarter-final. 

“I fought through some mistakes in the second set,” she said. “I could have been angry about them but I was playing really well at the end of both sets.    

“That’s what won me the match.”

Kostyuk won the pair’s only match, played last spring in the Madrid quarter-finals.

Main photo:- Marta Kostyuk winning quarter final wearing a tennis dress based on her Wedding dress -by Roger Parker/International Sports Fotos Ltd