​Coco Gauff is aiming to reach her first Wimbledon final as she prepares to face Karolina Muchova in Thursday’s semi-finals, with the Championships poised to crown a first-time winner in the women’s draw. Gauff, who has claimed two major titles in her career, first grabbed global attention at Wimbledon in 2019 by reaching the fourth round on her debut at the age of 15. Since then, it has taken her six more attempts to break through the last-16 barrier for the first time, a milestone she finally surpassed after defeating fourth seed Jessica Pegula in three sets during Tuesday’s quarter-final match.
Entering the semi-finals, the 22-year-old American has shown remarkable nerve, winning four consecutive deciding sets on her recent run. But Muchova, the 10th seed from the Czech Republic, presents a formidable challenge. Muchova progressed to the semi-finals by eliminating Naomi Osaka in straight sets, continuing a trajectory that has seen her rise back to top form after a difficult period. Known for her inventive and creative shot-making, Muchova will be chasing her first Wimbledon final and her second Grand Slam final overall, following her appearance in the 2023 French Open final.
The 29-year-old Muchova endured injury troubles after Roland Garros, including wrist surgery at the start of 2024, but she has returned to fitness and is ready to contest what could be the biggest title of her career. As Gauff and Muchova advanced on Tuesday, they set the tone for Thursday’s first women’s semi-final, which is scheduled to begin on Centre Court after 1:30pm BST (8:30am ET). The second semi-final will follow, featuring Czech ninth seed Linda Noskova against Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, both players reaching Wimbledon semi-finals for the first time. The order of play lists Centre Court as the venue and the start times reflect the European and American time zones.
For UK viewers, every Wimbledon match will be streamed live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website, with access available from all 18 courts. In the United States, matches are broadcast by ESPN and Tennis Channel. The Thursday schedule shows live coverage on BBC Two, BBC One, iPlayer, and the BBC Sport website and app during the afternoon and evening, ensuring fans can follow the Gauff-Muchova clash in addition to the Noskova-Kostyuk matchup.
In their head-to-head, Gauff leads Muchova 6-1, though Muchova did win their most recent encounter on clay in Stuttgart. The upcoming match will be the pair’s fourth meeting this season, with Gauff having won on notable occasions such as the Australian Open fourth round and the Miami Open semi-finals. All six of Gauff’s wins over Muchova have come on hard courts, and this will be their first-ever tie on grass.
A detailed look at Gauff’s path to the semi-finals shows a steady climb. She began with a first-round win over Tamara Korpatsch, 6-2, 6-1, followed by a hard-fought second-round victory over Solana Sierra, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 in a marathon that lasted two hours and eight minutes. In the third round, she defeated Clare Liu 6-3, 6-7, 6-2, after another lengthy battle. In the Round of 16, Gauff overcame Belinda Bencic 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in two hours and eighteen minutes before sealing a three-set victory over Jessica Pegula in the quarter-finals, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, to book her semi-final berth.
Coco Gauff’s bid to reach a first Wimbledon final is a central storyline of the tournament, and her clash with Muchova promises an intriguing contest between youth and experience, consistency and improvisation, as both players seek to leave their mark on the Championships by claiming a maiden title at this iconic venue.