Marta Kostiuk beats Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 6-2 to reach Wimbledon semifinals

Match overview

Marta Kostiuk, the 12th seed from Ukraine, delivered a commanding performance to defeat Italy's Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 6-2 in the Wimbledon quarterfinals. The match lasted just 69 minutes on Centre Court. Kostiuk's victory sends her into her second straight Grand Slam semifinal, following her run to the last four at Roland Garros in June. For Paolini, the 2024 Wimbledon finalist, the loss ends a tournament that had seen her eliminate the player who knocked out Iga Świątek.

Kostiuk's breakthrough season

The 24-year-old from Kyiv has been enjoying the best season of her career under the guidance of Polish coach Sandra Zaniewska, a former professional player. Kostiuk won the WTA 1000 title in Madrid earlier this year and reached the semifinals in Paris. Her aggressive forehand and improved slice have made her a threat on all surfaces. A turning point in her Wimbledon campaign came in the round of 16, where she beat Emma Navarro 6-1 in the third set, overcoming a 0-4 head-to-head record against the American. Kostiuk, who won the Australian Open junior title as a 14-year-old, had previously struggled to break into the top 30, but her collaboration with Zaniewska has unlocked a new level.

Paolini's background and form

Paolini, the 13th seed, was a finalist at Wimbledon in 2024, losing a three-set battle to Barbora Krejcikova. She also won the WTA 1000 event in Rome last year, but after those points dropped off, she fell out of the top 10. The Italian, who speaks Polish and has strong family ties to Poland (her mother was born in Łódź and her grandmother still lives there), had said she needed a short break to rediscover her enjoyment of tennis. In the previous round, she eliminated Alexandra Eala, the player who had stunned Iga Świątek.

How the match unfolded

1. First set, 5th gameKostiuk breaks Paolini's serve to lead 3-2
2. First set, 9th gameKostiuk breaks again to take the first set 6-3
3. Second set, 4th gameKostiuk breaks for a 3-1 lead in the second set
4. Second set, 8th gameKostiuk breaks to close out the match 6-2

Despite the intense heat in London, Kostiuk started sharply. After four games were shared, she created a break point in the fifth game and converted her second chance with a powerful forehand. She continued to pressure Paolini's second serve, often stepping around to attack with her forehand. Paolini managed to hold serve once more but could not threaten Kostiuk's delivery, winning only three points on the Ukrainian's serve in the entire first set. Kostiuk broke again in the ninth game to take the set 6-3. The second set followed a similar script: Kostiuk broke in the fourth game for a 3-1 lead and, despite a brief resurgence from Paolini, closed out the match with a fourth break of serve to win 6-2. Paolini did not earn a single break point in the match, while Kostiuk converted four of her opportunities.

What's next

Kostiuk will face Czech player Linda Noskova in the semifinals. Noskova won her quarterfinal earlier on Wednesday. The Ukrainian is now two wins away from a maiden Grand Slam title.