LONDON, Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk reached the Wimbledon semifinals on July 10, 2026, after defeating Italy’s Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 6-2. Her run to the last four comes amid renewed Russian attacks on Kyiv, including an 11-hour drone and missile assault that killed at least 21 civilians last week and further strikes on Monday that damaged residential buildings near her parents’ home.

War and Wimbledon

Kostyuk, 24, said it was “not easy to disconnect entirely” from the war while competing at the All England Club — “It was really tough for me last week when the first big attack happened,” she said. “Then on Monday they ruined like four streets of residential buildings, it was like five kilometers away from where my parents live, Again, another difficult night and a lot of dead people, innocent people, kids. It’s not easy.”

Her performance in Wimbledon has been particularly notable this year, having previously only reached the third round at the tournament in 2023 and 2024, this year, Kostyuk has advanced to her second consecutive Grand Slam semifinal, following her French Open run where she lost to Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva. Notably, she and Andreeva did not shake hands before that match — a common practice among Ukrainian and Russian players since the war began in 2022.

IOC Decision Sparks Backlash

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently took a controversial step by provisionally ending Russia’s suspension, a measure that had been in place since October 2023. According to the COI, the Russian Olympic Committee no longer includes any organizations from occupied Ukrainian territories. The decision, announced July 8, allows Russian athletes to compete in upcoming events without the “neutral” label and could pave the way for their participation in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Kostyuk strongly criticized the move, calling it “terrible” and “very, very far away from Fair Play.” She added, “I am not at all in agreement with this decision. I just want to go out and, with luck, beat all the Russians I play against at the Olympics.”

Ukraine’s Symbol at Wimbledon

Kostyuk, who is based in Monaco, has become a symbol of Ukrainian resistance on the tennis circuit. Her family in Kyiv keeps her updated on the ongoing conflict. In an interview with MARCA, she revealed that she had removed alert notifications from her phone to cope with the constant news of attacks. Her parents and sister have also attempted to move to Monaco, but found it difficult to adapt.

Noskova advanced by defeating Elise Mertens 6-3, 7-5. Kostyuk will face Czech player Linda Noskova in the semifinals. The match will be the first Grand Slam final appearance for either player. Analysts have highlighted Kostyuk’s aggressive baseline game and superior backhand as key attributes, but also note that Noskova’s flatter strokes and control of the pace could prove decisive on the grass courts of Wimbledon.

Both players are competing in the same Grand Slam for the second consecutive year. Kostyuk’s 2025 French Open run saw her reach the semifinals for the first time, while this is her first Wimbledon semifinal. She joins compatriot Elina Svitolina, who previously reached the Wimbledon semifinals in 2019 and 2023.

Kostyuk’s refusal to shake hands with Russian players has been a recurring theme in the war’s aftermath. She has made it clear that the conflict remains deeply personal and that she will not forget the lives lost in attacks on Kyiv.