Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk reaches first semi-final at Wimbledon 2026 after defeating former runner-up Jasmine Paolini in straight sets

Marta Kostyuk surged into her maiden Wimbledon semi-final with a dominant victory over Jasmine Paolini.

The Ukrainian made it back-to-back Grand Slam semi-final appearances as she defeated the 2024 runner-up 6-3 6-2 in one hour and nine minutes on Centre Court.

Kostyuk came into the contest as one of the most in-form players on the circuit and it quickly became evident that her confidence and greater power would be tough for the Italian to handle.

The 12th seed continually unloaded off her forehand, particularly when attacking second serves, and Paolini could do little to stop her opponent breaking for a 3-2 lead.

Kostyuk was relentless as her aggressive ball-striking consistently unlocked the feisty defence of the 13th seed and she broke again to take a one-sided opener in 36 minutes.

The Ukrainian had won 21 of her previous 22 matches coming into this last eight showdown - including titles in Rouen and Madrid - and she oozed with belief as she handled everything her opponent threw at her to break and consolidate for a 4-1 lead in the second.

There would be no fightback for the Italian as Kostyuk broke again on her second match to tee up a last-four showdown with Linda Noskova.

"First of all, hello Centre Court," she said in her on-court interview afterwards.

"First time playing on this unbelievable court and obviously, dream come true winning here. Was not even in the plans today, I just wanted to go out and enjoy and put on a good show.

"It is always a joy to play in front of a packed stadium and here it is always packed, so thank you guys for the energy today."

Kostyuk has made the semi-finals in the last two Grand Slam events (French Open and Wimbledon 2026) after having failed to reach this stage in all her first 24 Majors’ main draw appearances.

Kostyuk has equalled the best result achieved by an Ukrainian player in Singles at the Championships in the Open Era by reaching the semi-finals made by Elina Svitolina in 2019 and 2023.

Kostyuk is so comfortable she can even smile when she loses a point.

The Ukrainian keeps hitting back early in the game and after shanking a forehand high into the sky, she makes Pulp before a huge forehand a sublime, short slice tee up match point.

Paolini saves it with a clutch serve but angles a backhand into the net to offer up a second.

This time she can't fend it off as a backhand pass down the line proves too good for Jasmine to defend on the stretch.

Paolini zaps away a superb forehand winner and senses a potential opportunity when Kostyuk double faults.

The Ukrainian opts for placement over power on her next serve and snares a much-needed ace.

The 12th seed shows her confidence when she patiently waits for a high-bouncing return before arrowing a forehand winner to the other flank.

Paolini hangs tough in the next point but drills a forehand down the line wide and that wing falters again to allow Marta to secure a hard-fought hold.

There’s a bit of respite for Jasmine right there.

The Italian continues to battle and finds her range on her forehand to stay in touch with a game to 15.

Fortune favours the brave!

Kostyuk does well with a half volley and then gets a slice of luck when a second volley clips the tape and lands in.

It comes after Paolini had battled her way to deuce and there’s no further danger as the Ukrainian snares the following point to consolidate via the scenic route.

It’s a long way back from here for the 2024 runner-up.

The Italian double faults at 15-15 and can’t handle the stress this time around as she misfires with back-to-back forehands to allow the Ukrainian to move a set and a break to the good.

Coco Gauff will meet Karolina Muchova in the semi-final on the other side of this year's ladies' draw.

The Czech 10th seed saw odd Naomi Osaka while Gauff hit back to triumph in an all-American clash with Jessica Pegula.

Kostyuk shrugs off a scorching return winner at 40-0 to slam the door shut on any ideas Paolini had of getting a foothold in the game.

Kostyuk spews off both wings to allow Paolini to pull clear from 30-15 and return to the board.

The Ukrainian has been so impressive so far, but that was a touch loose and Paolini will hope her opponent will continue to drop from such halcyon heights in this second set.

This is one-way traffic right now.

Kostyuk roars through a clean hold to kick off Set 2 and if the Ukrainian keeps up this standard and maintains her intensity, it’ll be a big-ask for Jasmine to neutralise it.

Kostyuk’s forehand is the top trump here and Paolini would do well to play to the backhand as much as possible.

The Italian does not take heed of that from 40-0 up and Marta again rampages back to deuce.

The red-hot Ukrainian stares at her team with hands on hips when she undoes her good work with a weak slice into the net, but Paolini is over-zealous with a wild forehand down the line.

The 2024 runner-up coughs up set point when Kostyuk jumps all over a timid second serve and the Ukrainian deservedly takes a 36-minute opener when Jasmine unleashes a fizzing forehand long.  

Kostyuk double faults to pique Paolini’s interest, but the Italian is a spectator for the remainder of the game as Marta rolls through four points on the spin with a wide ace and a quite sensational forehand pile-driver down the line moving her to within a game of taking this opener.

The Kostyuk forehand continues to fire and do plenty of damage, particularly when attacking the second serve.

Paolini grits in to avoid a disaster and stave off two more break points and she gets her reward as a raft of much-needed first serves help her duck out of dodge from deuce.

It’s very neat and tidy from Kostyuk as Paolini over-presses making life easy for the Ukrainian 12th seed to consolidate to love.  

Paolini demonstrates her genius in the forecourt with a sweet volley to open and an even better low, stretch half-volley pick-up.

It moves her 40-15 up but a poor slice and tight backhand open the door for Marta at deuce.

The Ukrainian crushes a return winner up the line to earn the first break point of the quarter-final, but Jasmine wipes it out with a clutch serve.

Kostyuk comes again with a rocket forehand down the line and gives a second serve the treatment with an inside-out forehand return winner to make the breakthrough.

Kostyuk rifles a ferocious backhand way long to blot her copybook after racing 40-0 up.

Paolini threatens to make things interesting with a smart defensive lob, but the Italian misses her opportunity with a midcourt forehand into the net.

Paolini pounds down a big first serve to follow up a delightful inside-in forehand winner to race into a 40-0 lead.

Kostyuk locks-in on the return, finding searing depth to wrestle her way back in and turn up the heat at deuce.

Jasmine responds with a timely first serve and then outlasts the Ukrainian in a lung-bursting rally to come through the early examination.

Marta glosses over a double fault to ease onto the board in reply as Paolini fails to find the island on the return, prior to the Ukrainian landing a maiden ace to finish with a flourish.