​Karolina Muchova and Linda Noskova will pause their friendship for a day as they chase the Wimbledon crown on Saturday, after two Czech players carved very different routes to their first All England Club final. Muchova survived a dramatic 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (12/10) semifinal against Coco Gauff, saving a match point in a match that stretched over two hours in scorching 33°C heat on Thursday. Hours later, Noskova took Centre Court by storm, defeating Ukrainian 12th seed Marta Kostyuk with a steady 6-4, 6-4 victory that finished in 79 minutes. It was a standout day for two players who have grown close despite being at different phases in their careers, with a bond forged off the court and even a doubles appearance together at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“Karolina is such a great fighter, such an incredible player, but most of all she is such a wonderful person. I’m glad I can play my first final against her,” Noskova said. Muchova, now 29, made her WTA main-draw debut nine years ago and has repeatedly come close to a Grand Slam breakthrough at the majors. She was runner-up to Iga Swiatek in three sets at the 2023 French Open, and she reached the Australian Open semifinals in 2021 as well as the US Open semifinals in 2023 and 2024. After years of near-misses, Muchova’s Wimbledon journey has finally cleared some of the obstacles that have held her back, including a string of injuries that sidelined her for long stretches. Doctors once advised her in 2022 to think about quitting tennis, and in 2023 and 2024 she endured right wrist operations that kept her off court for about ten months. Now, a grass allergy is managed with pills, sprays and eye drops, and she has become comfortable on the lawns of the All England Club.
“For me, it’s a very special moment. It’s a huge achievement,” Muchova said. “This is one of the most storied tournaments we have, with so much history and so many legends who have played here. To get the chance to compete on Centre Court is really special.”
Noskova’s ascent contrasts sharply with Muchova’s perseverance. The 21-year-old had Wimbledon debut only in 2022 and now stands on the brink of her first major title. She is the youngest Wimbledon semifinalist since Jelena Ostapenko in 2018, and while she may not be a household name just yet, she has compiled the best grass-court results on the WTA Tour over the last two seasons, winning more matches on grass than any other player during that span. Her pre-Wimbledon form included lifting the Berlin Open for her first grass-court title, a breakthrough that signaled a potential breakthrough at Wimbledon.
“When I play my best, I know I can compete with the best players in the world and achieve strong results, which for me means reaching the final of a Grand Slam, I suppose,” Noskova commented. Their run to the final underscores a proud moment for Czech tennis, continuing a storied national tradition at Wimbledon even as the country’s population remains just about 11 million.