LINDA NOSKOVA SWEPT into her first Wimbledon final with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Marta Kostyuk on Thursday, setting up an all-Czech title match against Karolina Muchova.
Noskova took just 79 minutes to see off Ukrainian 12th seed Kostyuk in sweltering 33C heat on Centre Court.
In her maiden Grand Slam final, the ninth seed faces her 10th seeded compatriot Muchova, who beat Coco Gauff in a three-set thriller earlier on Thursday.
Noskova had never been past the quarter-final of a Grand Slam before arriving at Wimbledon last week. Now the 21-year-old is on the brink of her maiden Grand Slam title.
For the third time in the last four years, there will be a Czech women’s champion at Wimbledon after Barbora Krejcikova in 2024 and Marketa Vondrousova in 2023.
Wimbledon has a rich history of Czech winners, with Noskova inspired by the success of her childhood idol Petra Kvitova, who triumphed at the All England Club in 2011 and 2014.
Jana Novotna memorably won Wimbledon in 1998 after losing two previous finals.
Noskova was the eighth Czech player since 2000 to make it to the final four of the women’s singles at Wimbledon.
“Karolina is such a great fighter, such an incredible player, but mainly she is such a great person. I’m glad I can play my first final against her,” Noskova said of facing her compatriot.
Two players from the same country will clash in the Wimbledon women’s final for the first time since 2009, when Serena Williams beat sister Venus.
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Linda Noskova celebrates her win. Alamy Stock Photo
Alamy Stock Photo
- Ice-cool Noskova -
Kostyuk had won 21 of her previous 22 matches, with her only defeat coming in the French Open semi-finals against Mirra Andreeva in June.
But once again she fell just short of a place in a first Grand Slam final. Noskova had advanced to her first Wimbledon semi-final with a straight-sets win against Belgian 25th seed Elise Mertens.
That made her the youngest Wimbledon semi-finalist since Jelena Ostapenko in 2018.
There was little to separate Noskova and Kostyuk in a first set that turned into a war of attrition.
The crucial moment was a self-inflicted wound as Kostyuk served a double fault on set point to hand Noskova the lead. Noskova scented blood and broke for a 3-1 lead in the second set.
With a place in the final within touching distance, she allowed Kostyuk to break back. But Noskova was unfazed, celebrating a nerveless victory after Kostyuk’s forehand sailed long on match point.
Muchova saved a match point to reach her first Wimbledon final with a pulsating three-set win against Gauff on Thursday.
Muchova held her nerve in a gripping final set tie-break, winning 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (12/10) in two hours and 35 minutes in searing temperatures on Centre Court. Muchova is into her second Grand Slam final and her first since finishing as the 2023 French Open runner-up.
“It sounds really nice to be in the final. It was such a big fight. You are up and down, no time to think but it was very nerve-wracking,” Muchova said.
Muchova is at last unimpeded after suffering a multitude of injuries in recent years, including problems with her right wrist, left wrist, abdomen, back, thigh, ankle and foot.
Gauff, seeded seventh, had struggled badly with her serve for much of the tournament and has the most double faults on the women’s tour this year.
Muchova took advantage of that glaring flaw to break in the third game of the first set and again in the fifth. The Czech sealed the set with an ace, sending Gauff scurrying to the sanctuary of the locker room to compose herself.
Gauff had 12 unforced errors in the first set, but in keeping with her tenacious character, she hit back with a dominant second set that could not have been more different to her spluttering start.
Steadying her serve and playing with far more purpose and intensity, she broke for a 3-1 lead and emphatically closed out the set to force a decider.
The final set was a nerve-jangling battle, with break points saved by both players as the tension mounted and Muchova appearing to suffer an abdominal injury.
Muchova had a flawless record in tie-breaks this year, a run she maintained in style, diving full length to volley a stunning winner that even Gauff was forced to applaud.
Coco Gauff during her match against Karolina Muchova. Alamy Stock Photo
Alamy Stock Photo
Muchova was given a time violation for delaying her serve at 8-8 and the warning rattled the Czech, who blazed a forehand long to give Gauff a match point.
But Gauff let Muchova off the hook with a weak drop shot into the net.
Muchova floated a sublime lob over Gauff to bring up a match point, but she slipped at the net as the American hammered a winner past her.
Undeterred, Muchova kept the pressure on Gauff and finally closed out the most memorable win of her career.
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Gauff squanders match point as all-Czech Wimbledon final will feature Noskova and Muchova
LAST UPDATE | 9 Jul
LINDA NOSKOVA SWEPT into her first Wimbledon final with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Marta Kostyuk on Thursday, setting up an all-Czech title match against Karolina Muchova.
Noskova took just 79 minutes to see off Ukrainian 12th seed Kostyuk in sweltering 33C heat on Centre Court.
In her maiden Grand Slam final, the ninth seed faces her 10th seeded compatriot Muchova, who beat Coco Gauff in a three-set thriller earlier on Thursday.
Noskova had never been past the quarter-final of a Grand Slam before arriving at Wimbledon last week. Now the 21-year-old is on the brink of her maiden Grand Slam title.
For the third time in the last four years, there will be a Czech women’s champion at Wimbledon after Barbora Krejcikova in 2024 and Marketa Vondrousova in 2023.
Wimbledon has a rich history of Czech winners, with Noskova inspired by the success of her childhood idol Petra Kvitova, who triumphed at the All England Club in 2011 and 2014.
Jana Novotna memorably won Wimbledon in 1998 after losing two previous finals.
Noskova was the eighth Czech player since 2000 to make it to the final four of the women’s singles at Wimbledon.
“Karolina is such a great fighter, such an incredible player, but mainly she is such a great person. I’m glad I can play my first final against her,” Noskova said of facing her compatriot.
Two players from the same country will clash in the Wimbledon women’s final for the first time since 2009, when Serena Williams beat sister Venus.
- Ice-cool Noskova -
Kostyuk had won 21 of her previous 22 matches, with her only defeat coming in the French Open semi-finals against Mirra Andreeva in June.
But once again she fell just short of a place in a first Grand Slam final. Noskova had advanced to her first Wimbledon semi-final with a straight-sets win against Belgian 25th seed Elise Mertens.
That made her the youngest Wimbledon semi-finalist since Jelena Ostapenko in 2018.
There was little to separate Noskova and Kostyuk in a first set that turned into a war of attrition.
The crucial moment was a self-inflicted wound as Kostyuk served a double fault on set point to hand Noskova the lead. Noskova scented blood and broke for a 3-1 lead in the second set.
With a place in the final within touching distance, she allowed Kostyuk to break back. But Noskova was unfazed, celebrating a nerveless victory after Kostyuk’s forehand sailed long on match point.
Match Point
Muchova saved a match point to reach her first Wimbledon final with a pulsating three-set win against Gauff on Thursday.
Muchova held her nerve in a gripping final set tie-break, winning 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (12/10) in two hours and 35 minutes in searing temperatures on Centre Court. Muchova is into her second Grand Slam final and her first since finishing as the 2023 French Open runner-up.
“It sounds really nice to be in the final. It was such a big fight. You are up and down, no time to think but it was very nerve-wracking,” Muchova said.
Muchova is at last unimpeded after suffering a multitude of injuries in recent years, including problems with her right wrist, left wrist, abdomen, back, thigh, ankle and foot.
Gauff, seeded seventh, had struggled badly with her serve for much of the tournament and has the most double faults on the women’s tour this year.
Muchova took advantage of that glaring flaw to break in the third game of the first set and again in the fifth. The Czech sealed the set with an ace, sending Gauff scurrying to the sanctuary of the locker room to compose herself.
Gauff had 12 unforced errors in the first set, but in keeping with her tenacious character, she hit back with a dominant second set that could not have been more different to her spluttering start.
Steadying her serve and playing with far more purpose and intensity, she broke for a 3-1 lead and emphatically closed out the set to force a decider.
The final set was a nerve-jangling battle, with break points saved by both players as the tension mounted and Muchova appearing to suffer an abdominal injury.
Muchova had a flawless record in tie-breaks this year, a run she maintained in style, diving full length to volley a stunning winner that even Gauff was forced to applaud.
Muchova was given a time violation for delaying her serve at 8-8 and the warning rattled the Czech, who blazed a forehand long to give Gauff a match point.
But Gauff let Muchova off the hook with a weak drop shot into the net.
Muchova floated a sublime lob over Gauff to bring up a match point, but she slipped at the net as the American hammered a winner past her.
Undeterred, Muchova kept the pressure on Gauff and finally closed out the most memorable win of her career.
– © AFP 2026
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