Wimbledon WTA Quarter-finals Round-up | New ground broken! Kostyuk too strong for Paolini as Noskova edges Mertens

We have a completed semi-final lineup at Wimbledon in the women’s tournament. Following Karolina Muchova and Coco Gauff’s triumphs yesterday, it was Marta Kostyuk and Linda Noskova who proved to be too good on court today as they break new ground at SW19.

The duo has never reached this stage before at Wimbledon but have lit up the tournament with some fantastic tennis that has continued into the latter stages of the event. Both Kostyuk and Noskova will return tomorrow as they lock horns for a spot in a first Grand Slam final.

Kostyuk has been in spell-binding form in recent times. Her form on clay has transferred to grass as she wins a 21st match from her last 22 to defeat the 2024 finalist Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 6-2.

From the off Kostyuk was on a mission. She was against a player who has been in this arena before at the highest level and came into this match in good form following a positive week on court. However, she was hapless at times against the sheer brilliance of the Ukrainian.

The first four games went on serve, but from then Kostyuk exploded. The first break came to give Kostyuk a 3-2 lead and was backed up with a hold to love. She had two chances to extend her advantage, but Paolini salvaged the situation.

In the end, Paolini just could not brew up the answers against her rampant opponent. Kostyuk did not bother waiting until her service game to see it out, opting to get it done on the Paolini serve instead with her first chance.

This electric tennis continued into the second set. Kostyuk claimed eight of her first nine points on serve before just one solitary break point was all that was needed for her to seal an important lead.

Elimination from Wimbledon was nearing for Paolini who did her best to get back into the match but found herself with an uphill task when 5-2 down. Kostyuk kept coming and created her first match point. That was defended as the game went to deuce but the 24-year-old was not going to let another opportunity slip. She continues her incredible form with a second Grand Slam semi-final on the spin confirmed.

Following her Berlin Ladies Open title, Noskova has proven to be a handy player on grass. Her potential has bee showcased on court over the past couple of weeks as she confirms a first ever Grand Slam semi-final with a convincing 6-3, 7-5 win over Elise Mertens, sealing a 10th win on grass in 11 matches.

The Mertens serve was put under a lot of pressure in this tie, but it was the Belgian who delivered the first break chance of the match. This was not taken, and Noskova moved up the gears. Powerful groundstrokes kept Mertens on her toes, but she resisted well, saving three break points in the fourth game.

Her luck would run out as Noskova got herself in front with a tight but pivotal break of serve. She backed it up in formidable fashion, holding to love as she served out the first set to move her one away from a first ever major semi-final.

She could have dealt a definitive blow in the very first game following numerous chances to break. None of them were taken and Mertens was given a lifeline. The 30-year-old took a medical timeout with concern over her left leg. She shook it off and returned to the court and held serve to make it 2-2.

Play continued with four holds of serve as the scoreline was levelled at 4-4. Three more break opportunities were not converted successfully. Noskova showed real maturity and kept her head up, continuing to plough on and two games later was much more successful.

She broke to go 6-5 ahead and to serve for the match. Having not faced a break point in the entire match, and this trend prolonged. A hold to love was the perfect combination as the Czech join’s fellow countrywoman Muchova in the semi-final.