Story perspectives

Kostyuk reaches Wimbledon semis, dedicates win to grandfather

7/9/2026

Summary

Kostyuk Advances

Marta Kostyuk defeated Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 6-2 in 69 minutes to reach the Wimbledon semifinal.
The 12th-seeded Ukrainian will face ninth-seeded Czech Linda Noskova in the semifinal.
Kostyuk entered Wimbledon on a 21-win-out-of-22 streak, the tour’s best since the week of April 14.
She dedicated the win to her 89-year-old grandfather and condemned the IOC’s decision to lift the Russian ban.

Summary

Noskova Semifinal

Barbora Noskova said she wants to emulate Petra Kvitova after reaching her first Wimbledon semifinal.
At 21, she is the youngest Czech first-time Wimbledon semifinalist since Kvitova in 2010.
She entered the tournament after winning the Berlin Open, her first grass-court title, and a 2024 Australian Open quarter-final appearance.
Queen Camilla watched the quarter-finals from the Royal Box.
The crowd rallied behind underdog Kostyuk, who was defeated in 69 minutes.

History

Historical Context

In 2010, Petra Kvitova became the first Czech woman to reach a Wimbledon semifinal at age 20, sparking a national tennis surge. The Czech Tennis Federation invested €12 million in youth academies, producing 2024 rising star Linda Noskova, who won the Berlin Open on grass. Wimbledon semifinals echo that legacy as 21-year-old Noskova mirrors Kvitova’s breakthrough while Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk, on a 21-win streak, protests the IOC’s lifted Russian ban. The parallel underscores how early Czech successes and Eastern European resilience continue shaping Wimbledon narratives, prompting organizers to reassess player support amid geopolitical tensions.

1 of 3

Kostyuk Advances

Marta Kostyuk defeated Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 6-2 in 69 minutes to reach the Wimbledon semifinal.
The 12th-seeded Ukrainian will face ninth-seeded Czech Linda Noskova in the semifinal.
Kostyuk entered Wimbledon on a 21-win-out-of-22 streak, the tour’s best since the week of April 14.
She dedicated the win to her 89-year-old grandfather and condemned the IOC’s decision to lift the Russian ban.

1 / 3