LONDON, JUL 8 (IANS): Linda Noskova of Czechia has stormed into her first Grand Slam semifinal at Wimbledon 2026, defeating Belgium’s Elise Mertens 6 3, 7 5 on No.1 Court. The ninth seed, just 21 years old, displayed maturity beyond her years, breaking Mertens once in each set and maintaining composure in key moments. Noskova, who had reached the fourth round last year, is now the youngest Wimbledon semifinalist since Jelena Ostapenko in 2018. Her victory guarantees a first time Grand Slam finalist, as she will face Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in the last four.
Kostyuk, seeded 12th, continued her remarkable rise by brushing aside Italy’s Jasmine Paolini 6 3, 6 2 on Centre Court. The match lasted just 69 minutes, with Kostyuk hitting 19 winners and keeping Paolini under constant pressure. The Italian, last year’s runner up, faltered with 15 unforced errors in the opening set, allowing Kostyuk to seize control. The turning point came in the fifth game when Kostyuk struck a forehand return winner off a tentative second serve, breaking Paolini’s rhythm. From then on, the Ukrainian dominated with aggressive baseline play and precise returns.
This semifinal appearance marks Kostyuk’s second consecutive Grand Slam semifinal, following her run at the French Open earlier this year. Her record now stands at 21 wins in her last 22 matches, underlining her consistency and emergence as one of the standout players of 2026. Playing on Centre Court for the first time, she showed confidence and composure, never allowing Paolini back into the contest. With Noskova awaiting her, Wimbledon is assured of a fresh face in the women’s final.
Djokovic survives historic quarterfinal
On the men’s side, Novak Djokovic produced another epic performance to reach his 55th Grand Slam semifinal and a record extending 15th at Wimbledon. The 39 year old Serbian defeated Canada’s Felix Auger Aliassime in the longest quarterfinal in Wimbledon history, lasting five hours and 15 minutes. The scoreline—7 6(10), 3 6, 6 3, 6 7(4), 7 6(10 4)—reflected the intensity of the battle, with Djokovic relying on experience, tactical precision, and sheer willpower to prevail.
Djokovic, who first reached the Wimbledon semifinals 19 years ago, is now the second oldest player in the Open Era to make the last four, behind Ken Rosewall in 1974. His victory also made him the oldest semifinalist at The Championships in over half a century. With 107 match wins at Wimbledon, he has surpassed Roger Federer’s previous record of 105. Despite taking a medical timeout for a calf injury and facing moments of real danger, Djokovic’s relentless targeting of Auger Aliassime’s backhand proved decisive.
The match was a test of endurance, with only four breaks of serve across five sets. Djokovic’s resilience ended a run of three defeats to top ten players at Wimbledon, including losses to Carlos Alcaraz in the 2023 and 2024 finals and to Jannik Sinner in last year’s semifinal. He now faces Sinner again in a repeat of the 2025 semifinal, which the Italian won en route to his maiden Wimbledon crown. Djokovic remains two wins away from his first Wimbledon title since 2023 and a record extending 25th Grand Slam overall.
The women’s semifinals promise fresh narratives, with Noskova and Kostyuk both chasing their first Grand Slam final. Noskova’s youth and composure contrast with Kostyuk’s momentum and aggressive style, setting up a compelling clash. On the men’s side, Djokovic’s pursuit of history continues against Sinner, who has already proven capable of halting the Serbian’s ambitions.
