Business

Marta Kostyuk Beats Ashlyn Krueger 6-4, 6-4 to Reach First-Ever Wimbledon Quarterfinal in Straight Sets

Published

4 weeks ago

6 July 2026

Australian James Duckworth celebrates a point in his second-round win over eighth-seeded David Goffin of Belgium in the Miami Open ATP and WTA hardcourt tennis tournament

LONDON — Marta Kostyuk defeated American Ashlyn Krueger 6-4, 6-4 on Monday to reach her first Wimbledon quarterfinal, continuing a breakout season for the Ukrainian that has now seen her advance to the fourth round or better at all four Grand Slam tournaments.

The match, played on No. 2 Court, pitted the No. 13-seeded Kostyuk against Krueger, an American ranked outside the top 100 who had been enjoying the best run of her career on grass. Kostyuk used her aggressive baseline game and sharp return of serve to overcome a confident Krueger, closing out the win in straight sets to book a spot in her first Wimbledon quarterfinal.

The victory extended what has become one of the more remarkable turnarounds on the WTA Tour this season. Kostyuk has now won 19 of her last 20 matches, a stretch that included a run to the semifinals at Roland Garros earlier this year, a tournament where she memorably ended four-time champion Iga Swiatek’s run in the earliest French Open exit of Swiatek’s career in seven years. Kostyuk entered Wimbledon with a modest 19-19 career record on grass and had previously never advanced past the third round at the All England Club, a surface she has openly said used to feel like her worst.

Kostyuk’s win over Krueger followed a hard-fought third-round victory over American Emma Navarro, whom Kostyuk beat 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 after saving four of five break points she faced. That win was particularly significant given that Navarro had beaten Kostyuk in all four of their previous meetings. Reflecting on her run to the fourth round after that match, Kostyuk said she had never expected to reach that stage of the tournament, adding that regardless of the outcome, the most important thing was to enjoy the experience fully.

Kostyuk has also been candid about her prior struggles on grass, saying she had played what she described as horrendous tennis at Wimbledon in previous years and had never been able to find her form on the surface at any level of tournament, whether at the majors or smaller grass-court events. She noted that even in the lead-up to this year’s tournament, she had lost most of her practice sets, including matches against Serena Williams and Jessica Pegula, before turning her form around once the event began.

With Monday’s win, the 24-year-old Kostyuk moved into rarefied statistical territory. According to tournament statistics provider Opta, she became just the fourth player born in the 2000s to reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal on all three major surfaces, hard court, clay and grass, joining Iga Swiatek, Amanda Anisimova and Coco Gauff as the only players born in that decade to have accomplished the feat. The result also pushed Kostyuk to the brink of a maiden top-10 ranking, with her live ranking rising to No. 11, just 194 points behind the current No. 10, Victoria Mboko, who withdrew from this year’s Wimbledon due to a knee injury sustained at the Queen’s Club tournament.

For Krueger, the loss ended what had already been the best Grand Slam result of her career. Having reached the fourth round of a major for the first time, Krueger arrived at Wimbledon on the back of a 16-1 record on grass this season, a stretch that included winning the WTA 125 title in Ilkley and reaching the semifinals in Birmingham. Her run through the tournament included straight-set wins over Mariam Bolkvadze and Daria Snigur, along with a tighter three-set victory over 2024 semifinalist Donna Vekic in her opening match.

Monday’s meeting marked the second career encounter between the two players. Krueger had won their first meeting in straight sets at a hard-court tournament in Adelaide in 2025, a result that briefly gave her the edge in their head-to-head series. Kostyuk’s win on Monday evened that record and marked a significant statement given the difference in surface and stakes between the two matchups.

Krueger’s run through the tournament had drawn attention in part because she began the year outside the top 100 after failing to defend key ranking points from the previous season. Her performances on grass this year, capped by her deepest Grand Slam run to date, are expected to lift her ranking closer to the top 60 in the coming weeks, even after Monday’s defeat.

Kostyuk will next face the winner of a separate fourth-round match between Italy’s Jasmine Paolini, the No. 13 seed, and Filipino player Alexandra Eala, the No. 29 seed, as she continues her push toward a first Wimbledon semifinal appearance. Her run this fortnight has established her as one of the more credible outsiders remaining in a wide-open women’s draw, following her breakthrough run to the semifinals in Paris earlier this season.

The result continues a trend of deep runs for Kostyuk across each of the sport’s four majors this year, a consistency that has become a defining feature of her 2026 season. Having entered the year without a clear signature surface, she now finds herself with credible results on all three, a development that has repositioned her as a genuine contender heading into the latter stages of the year’s grass-court major.

Play at Wimbledon continues through the remainder of the week, with the men’s and women’s quarterfinals set to further narrow the field as the tournament moves toward its concluding rounds later this month.

Business

Palantir’s CTO believes Chinese AI models could pose an economic threat to the US

Published

3 minutes ago

2 August 2026

NewsAdmin

Palantir’s CTO believes Chinese AI models could pose an economic threat to the US

Palantir CTO Shyam Sankar stated that China has advanced its artificial intelligence capabilities by developing new models through unauthorized means. This development signifies a significant escalation in global AI competition, highlighting concerns over intellectual property breaches and the potential impact on technological leadership. The move underscores the importance of safeguarding innovation in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

Palantir’s CTO has expressed concerns that Chinese AI models could pose significant economic risks to the United States. As China accelerates its development of advanced artificial intelligence technologies, there is growing concern over the potential for these models to undermine American competitiveness. Chinese AI innovations are rapidly progressing, closing the innovation gap and creating new strategic advantages for China in the global economy.

The CTO highlighted that Chinese AI models could be used to enhance espionage, cybersecurity threats, and economic espionage, potentially compromising US businesses and government operations. This increased capability might lead to a loss of technological edge, threatening America’s leadership in key industries. The worry extends to the potential for China to leverage AI for economic dominance in sectors like finance, manufacturing, and defense.

To counter these risks, Palantir advocates for stronger investments in AI research and development within the US. Enhancing domestic AI capabilities and establishing robust regulatory frameworks are seen as essential steps to safeguard national security and maintain economic stability. The official emphasized that staying ahead in AI is vital to ensuring America’s technological and economic resilience amid global competition.

source

Business

Thailand’s 2027 Action Plan Targets High-Value Tourism Growth

Published

29 minutes ago

2 August 2026

NewsAdmin

Thailand's 2027 Action Plan Targets High-Value Tourism Growth

Thailand’s Tourism Minister introduced the 2027 Action Plan, emphasizing high-value tourism growth through innovation, data integration, and targeting premium markets, while promoting sustainability and year-round travel.

Key Points

Overview of the Action Plan: Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul launched the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Action Plan 2027 in Bangkok on July 13, 2026, focusing on positioning Thailand as a high-value tourism destination. Key officials, including Permanent Secretary Natthriya Thaweevong and TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool, highlighted strategic marketing policies and tourism’s role in the economy.
Strategic Guidelines: The action plan emphasizes four strategic guidelines: elevating Thailand as a high-value destination, enhancing competitiveness through market balance, advancing the industry via data and innovation, and developing a high-performance organization. Integration of data, technology, and AI is crucial for sustainable travel experiences.
Focus on Transformation: The TAT identified 2027 as “The Year of Transformation,” shifting its focus from tourist volume to high-value travelers through targeted demographics, promoting secondary cities, and developing sustainable tourism. An upcoming Market Briefing on July 21, 2026, will connect local operators with global market opportunities, with detailed marketing directions to be announced in August 2026.

Tourism Minister Outlines 2027 Action Plan to Position Thailand as a High-Value Destination

2 hours ago

2 August 2026

NewsAdmin

Idaho mass shooter died from self-inflicted gunshot, police say

Business

Growth slows in Perth housing market

Published

2 hours ago

2 August 2026

NewsAdmin

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Business

AstraZeneca holds talks with Bristol Myers Squibb on $400 billion megadeal, FT reports

Published

3 hours ago

2 August 2026

NewsAdmin

AstraZeneca holds talks with Bristol Myers Squibb on $400 billion megadeal, FT reports

Business

These 9 equity mutual funds delivered over 10% returns in July. Did you invest in any of them?

Published

3 hours ago

2 August 2026

NewsAdmin

Technology-focused mutual funds dominated the performance charts in July, with nine equity schemes delivering returns of over 10%. HDFC Technology Fund topped the list with a 16.91% gain, while international funds accounted for most of the double-digit losers during the month.