Kostyuk and Noskova complete the Wimbledon women's semi-finals with maiden runs
Marta Kostyuk beat Jasmine Paolini and Linda Noskova saw off Elise Mertens to set up a last-four meeting between two first-time major semi-finalists.
Marta Kostyuk and Linda Noskova completed the Wimbledon women's semi-final line-up on Wednesday, each reaching the last four at the All England Club for the first time and setting up a meeting between two players who have never been this deep at a major.
Kostyuk was ruthless on her Centre Court debut, dismissing former finalist Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 6-2 in 69 minutes with Queen Camilla watching from the Royal Box. The 12th seed broke early in each set and never let the Italian settle, backing up her run to the semi-finals at this year's French Open with another deep major. Paolini, the 2024 Wimbledon runner-up, went out in the quarter-finals of a Slam for the first time.
On Court One, ninth seed Noskova overcame the experienced Elise Mertens 6-3, 7-5 in baking heat, pounding the Belgian with heavy returns and the occasional drop shot. Mertens, a six-time Grand Slam doubles champion, saved nine break points but could not hold off the 21-year-old Czech, who reaches her first Grand Slam semi-final after winning the grass-court title in Berlin last month.
Noskova was the highest seed left in the bottom half of the draw after the early exits of Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina, and she lived up to it. She becomes the second Czech woman into the semis, alongside Karolina Muchova.
Kostyuk and Noskova meet on Thursday for a place in Saturday's final. Kostyuk won their only previous encounter, in the Madrid quarter-finals earlier this year on her way to that title. Waiting in the final will be either two-time major champion Coco Gauff or Muchova, who contest the other semi-final.
