LONDON , July 6: Marta Kostyuk reached her first Wimbledon quarterfinals by beating qualifier Ashlyn Krueger 6-4, 6-4 with record eight-time men’s singles champion Roger Federer among Monday’s visitors at the All England Club.
The 24-year-old Ukrainian, a French Open semifinalist, improved to 10-0 this season against players from the United States. Krueger had come into the match on No. 2 Court with a 16-1 record on grass this season.
“Today was a very difficult day, very hot,” Kostyuk said on court. “The longer you stay on this surface, actually the worse you feel. (It) was big fight, difficult conditions, super windy today.”
After mild weather in the first week at the grass-court major, the temperature was expected to rise to 31 C on Monday.
Kostyuk, who twirled after her win, will next face either Jasmine Paolini who beat Alexandra Eala 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.
The 21-year-old Eala had ousted defending champion Iga Swiatek on Saturday. No other player from the Philippines had come this far in a Grand Slam singles tournament in the Open era, according to the women’s professional tour.
Besides Federer, six-time women’s singles champion Billie Jean King posted that she was headed to the Royal Box. Also on hand was Formula 1 racer Kimi Antonelli, who leads the drivers’ standings despite a disappointing result in Sunday’s British Grand Prix. (AP)
