Marta Kostyuk reveals the key to her great transformation at Wimbledon

Diego Jiménez Rubio | 8 Jul 2026 | 18.37

Marta Kostyuk speaks after reaching the Wimbledon 2026 semifinals. Photo: gettyimages

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Marta Kostyuk continues to confirm that she is going through the best moment of her career. The Ukrainian defeated Jasmine Paolini convincingly (6-3, 6-2) to reach the semifinals of Wimbledon 2026, just weeks after doing the same at Roland Garros, cementing her status as one of the fittest players on the circuit.

After the match, Kostyuk explained the reasons behind this development, highlighting the significant role her coach Sandra Zaniewska has played, revealing how she has changed her approach to facing tough moments, and also dedicating a heartfelt tribute to her family while addressing the ongoing situation in Ukraine.

Marta Kostyuk analyzes her great moment after reaching the Wimbledon 2026 semifinals

Kostyuk points to consistency as a key factor

Although she had already reached the semifinals of Roland Garros just weeks ago, the Ukrainian admitted that this result holds immense value, especially given the unpredictability of grass courts.

"I think on clay it was somewhat more expected for me. Grass is always very unpredictable because the season is short, and you never truly know how you will adapt. If I win tomorrow, maybe I'll say something else, but for now, I still believe that my best surface is clay," she commented with a smile.

Asked about the reason for this remarkable progression, Kostyuk declined to pinpoint a single explanation. "I have worked on many things for a long time. Tennis is a very complex sport, and you can't point to just one change. The most important thing has been to gain consistency in my daily life, both in how I play and how I feel."

She also avoided assuming that her experience at Roland Garros might give her an advantage in the semifinals. "I don't see it the same way. They are two completely different tournaments, with different opponents. For me, it will simply be another match."

Marta Kostyuk credits her coach

One of the significant changes in Kostyuk's career has come from working with Sandra Zaniewska, who she says has helped her manage difficult moments much better. "For a long time, when going through a rough patch, my reaction was to want to change everything completely. I thought I needed another coach, another team, that nothing was working. It was a very emotional response."

The tennis player acknowledges that this tendency has disappeared thanks to the stability she has found with her coach. "Working with Sandra helped me greatly. I never doubted her, but there were times I wondered if everything I was doing was wrong. Over time, that feeling faded. We learned to always look at the whole picture, and that has been very important for both of us."

She even revealed that they attempted to add another figure to the team before the clay court season, but it didn't materialize. "We remain open to improvement and adding people if we truly believe they can contribute. We tried before the clay season, but that person declined. Frankly, I don't find many coaches better than Sandra. Right now, it's just the two of us, and I'm very happy with that."

Centre Court, Roger Federer, and learning from defeats

Kostyuk also discussed the experience of playing her first match on the Centre Court at Wimbledon. "I knew it would be special because I had never played there and didn't know how I would react. I am very pleased with how I handled the situation and the tactical approach to the match."

She also recalled her only previous visit to that court, as a spectator at a match involving Roger Federer. "It was nine years ago. I remember he played against Tomas Berdych and practically dominated him. I was seated right behind the players' box and felt very fortunate to have that experience. Now, going out to play there has been something entirely different."

The Ukrainian also explained how defeats and challenges have ultimately become tools for growth. "When things don't go well, that's when you discover what you need to improve. I think losing and facing tough moments are crucial because if everything were always perfect, you would never grow."

She even recalled training sessions years ago against great champions like Jessica Pegula or Serena Williams. "I would lose to them... and to practically everyone (laughter). But those training sessions taught me that I wasn't even giving myself a chance to develop my game on grass. Gradually, I improved the structure of my points and began to believe more in what I could do on this surface."

A message for Ukraine and a very special dedication

Beyond tennis, Kostyuk once again addressed the war affecting her country, acknowledging that it is impossible to completely disconnect while competing.

"It's not easy. Last week, there was another major attack, and on Monday, they destroyed several streets of residential buildings, very close to where my parents live. Innocent people died, including children. I try to stay informed about everything that happens and not let it affect me too much when I compete, but every day is different."

She also expressed opposition to the possibility of Russian athletes participating in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. "I completely disagree. I find it a very unfair decision, not just for Ukraine. We will discuss it later with the team and the authorities, but right now, my priority is to prepare for the semifinal."

Finally, the tennis player wanted to dedicate this historic result to two of the most important people in her life. "I would dedicate it to my mother and my grandfather. My grandfather is 89 years old and writes to me after each match telling me what I should do better. In these recent matches, he has only told me how proud he is of me, and that hadn't happened many times before. They sacrificed a lot for my career, and I feel they deserve this moment as much as I do."

Two consecutive Grand Slam semifinals confirm that Marta Kostyuk has ceased to be a promise and has become a reality on the women's circuit. The Ukrainian attributes this leap to greater stability, both on and off the court, and now faces the opportunity to continue making history at Wimbledon with the confidence of having found the path she had been seeking for years.

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Marta Kostyuk