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Marta Kostyuk celebrated reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals with a pirouette on a sparkling Centre Court debut on Wednesday.
The Ukrainian waltzed into the last four for the first time at the grass Grand Slam with a straight-sets win over former runner-up Jasmine Paolini.
Kostyuk, the 12th seed, is into the semis for the second successive major following her breakthrough run at Roland Garros last month.
The 24-year-old had never previously made it past the third round in south-west London, and was beaten in round one last year.
But she pulverized a below-par Paolini 6-3, 6-2 in just an hour and nine minutes.
Kostyuk sunk to her knees in celebration and disbelief, before giving the Royal Box – including the UK's Queen Camilla and Roger Federer – her trademark twirl.
“Hello Centre Court,” she smiled afterwards. “My first time playing on this unbelievable court and obviously it’s a dream come true.
“Thank God my coach made me walk here yesterday, I was flabbergasted and needed a day to recover.
“I was a spectator here nine years ago watching Roger so to make the walk of honour on Centre Court, I tried to soak it all in.”
Kostyuk will play Czech ninth seed Linda Nosková, who is through to her first Grand Slam semi-final after a 6-3, 7-5 win over Belgium’s Elise Mertens.
The 21-year-old is the youngest Wimbledon semi-finalist since Jelena Ostapenko in 2018.
Nosková said: “The feelings are incredible. like never before. This is what I am playing tennis for, it’s truly a special feeling.
“I was nervous before the match, I’m not gonna lie. I was putting pressure on myself and that’s when I play my best. When I’m nervous it shows I care.”
Kostyuk and Nosková will meet on Centre Court on Thursday for a place in the final.
“It will be a tough one,” added Nosková. “None of these matches are easy and Marta is an incredible player. It’s going to be a battle.”
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The Ukrainian waltzed into the last four for the first time at the grass Grand Slam with a straight-sets win over former runner-up Jasmine Paolini.
Kostyuk, the 12th seed, is into the semis for the second successive major following her breakthrough run at Roland Garros last month.
The 24-year-old had never previously made it past the third round in south-west London, and was beaten in round one last year.
But she pulverized a below-par Paolini 6-3, 6-2 in just an hour and nine minutes.
Kostyuk sunk to her knees in celebration and disbelief, before giving the Royal Box – including the UK's Queen Camilla and Roger Federer – her trademark twirl.
“Hello Centre Court,” she smiled afterwards. “My first time playing on this unbelievable court and obviously it’s a dream come true.
“Thank God my coach made me walk here yesterday, I was flabbergasted and needed a day to recover.
“I was a spectator here nine years ago watching Roger so to make the walk of honour on Centre Court, I tried to soak it all in.”
Kostyuk will play Czech ninth seed Linda Nosková, who is through to her first Grand Slam semi-final after a 6-3, 7-5 win over Belgium’s Elise Mertens.
The 21-year-old is the youngest Wimbledon semi-finalist since Jelena Ostapenko in 2018.
Nosková said: “The feelings are incredible. like never before. This is what I am playing tennis for, it’s truly a special feeling.
“I was nervous before the match, I’m not gonna lie. I was putting pressure on myself and that’s when I play my best. When I’m nervous it shows I care.”
Kostyuk and Nosková will meet on Centre Court on Thursday for a place in the final.
“It will be a tough one,” added Nosková. “None of these matches are easy and Marta is an incredible player. It’s going to be a battle.”
Continue reading...
