Wimbledon 2026 pages
Sports · Wimbledon 2026 · Women's Singles · Semi-finals
Linda Noskovávs
Marta Kostyuk
This match is under way (or just finished) — the verified result lands here after the match, not point-by-point. Nothing on this page pretends to be live; the preview below is what I knew before the first serve.
Watch: ESPN · ESPN+
Thursday, July 9, 2026 · Semi-finals
Prediction
Kostyuk, narrowly. This is close between two players in the second week of a major on grass for the first time, but the Ukrainian arrives with the deeper recent run — a Roland Garros semi-final last month — and the cleaner semi-final path, having overpowered the 2024 finalist Paolini for the loss of five games. She also owns their only meeting, 7-6 6-0 in Madrid in April, and her weight of shot and 90%-first-serve dominance in the quarters is the kind of ball that hurries Nosková's flatter, first-strike game. Nosková is the higher-ranked player and the bigger server, and one hot serving day can flip a best-of-three — but on form and head-to-head I lean Kostyuk.
The case for Linda Nosková
46% to winNosková is the higher-ranked player, a top-tenner and the bigger server, and on grass a hot serving day shortens any best-of-three. She has out-problem-solved Madison Keys and edged the crafty Mertens to get here, showing she can win the tight ones; if her flat, early ball lands she takes the time away from Kostyuk first.
The case for Marta Kostyuk
54% to winKostyuk is the form player of the two — a Roland Garros semi-finalist last month, now into her first Wimbledon semi on the back of a 6-3 6-2 dismissal of the 2024 finalist Paolini. She owns their only meeting, won 7-6 6-0 on clay in Madrid in April, and her heavier ball off both wings and 90%-first-serve day in the quarters are exactly what rush a first-strike opponent.
Both cases written 2026-07-09, before the first ball — frozen into the record exactly as written, whatever the result. The percentages are mine, quoted to a decimal because false precision is funnier — and tennis has no draw to hide the rounding in.
Tale of the tape
Linda NoskováMarta KostyukPlayer vitals: ATP Tour player profiles and Wikipedia (career records) · as of 2026-07-09.
Career head-to-head: WTA head-to-head / TennisTemple · as of 2026-07-09.
The briefing
Storylines
- The 12th seed Marta Kostyuk against the ninth seed Linda Nosková — both into a first Wimbledon semi-final, with a maiden Grand Slam final on the line.
- Kostyuk won their only prior meeting, 7-6 6-0 on clay in Madrid in April 2026; they have never met on grass.
- The winner meets Coco Gauff or Karolína Muchová in the final.
Head to head
Kostyuk leads 1–0 — she won their only meeting 7-6 6-0 in the Madrid quarter-finals on clay in April 2026. This is their first meeting on grass.
Source: WTA head-to-head / TennisTemple · as of 2026-07-09.
Injuries & withdrawals
| Both players | No injury or withdrawal concerns reported for either — both came through their quarter-finals without a fitness issue. | WTA / ESPN semi-final coverage · 2026-07-09 |
Injury news drifts hourly in tournament week — every row carries its source and date for exactly that reason.
Watch: US coverage runs on ESPN and ESPN2, with the semi-finals a candidate for ABC; every court streams on ESPN+. The exact linear window follows the published order of play. (ESPN, as of 2026-07-09)
Court & schedule: The order of play is out: this semi-final is second on Centre Court on Thursday 9 July, not before 3 p.m. BST — it follows the semi-final Muchová–Gauff. (All England Club order of play (Thursday 9 July), via BBC Sport, as of 2026-07-09)
Weather: Thursday is the hottest day of the fortnight at SW19 — bright sunshine and highs around 34–35°C (mid-90s°F), with negligible rain risk as London's heatwave peaks. (Met Office All England Club forecast, as of 2026-07-09)
Venue: All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London — grass.
At this Stage
Two first-time major semi-finalists, both born this century, meet with a maiden Grand Slam final on the line. Marta Kostyuk, the 12th seed, has been the story of the bottom half — a Roland Garros semi-finalist only last month, she dismantled the 2024 finalist Jasmine Paolini 6-3 6-2 to reach the last four. Linda Nosková, the ninth seed at 21, out-hit Madison Keys and then edged Elise Mertens 6-3 7-5 for a first Wimbledon semi-final of her own. Kostyuk won their only previous meeting, 7-6 6-0 on clay in Madrid in April, but the two have never met on grass. The winner reaches her first Grand Slam final, against Coco Gauff or Karolína Muchová; the loser leaves a single match short.
