Ukrainian player Marta Kostyuk defeated Jasmine Paolini in straight sets at Wimbledon on July 8 to advance to her first semifinal at the tournament. She also voiced strong opposition to the International Olympic Committee's decision to lift the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee.
Kostyuk won 6-3, 6-? against the Italian on Centre Court. She broke serve multiple times and avoided any break points in a controlled performance.
The 24-year-old credited her coach Sandra Zaniewska for advising her to visit the court the day before the match. “Thank God my coach made me walk here yesterday,” she said.
Kostyuk also addressed the IOC decision during her press conference. “My thoughts are that it’s terrible,” she said. “I think it’s very, very far from fair play for all the countries involved here. Not just for Ukraine.”
She is scheduled to face Linda Noskova in the semifinal later on July 9.
