​On Saturday, one of Linda Nosková or Karolina Muchová will become the third Czech woman in four years to win Wimbledon, yet neither can fully articulate the “tradition” that runners through south-west London. Ninth seed Nosková and 10th seed Muchová set aside their friendship to clash on Centre Court for the Venus Rosewater Dish, aiming to follow in the footsteps of compatriots Barbora Krejciková and Markéta Vondroušová, champions in 2024 and 2023 respectively. The Czech surge at the All England Club doesn’t end there; Petra Kvitová is a two-time winner, continuing a lineage that began with Jana Novotná’s official status as the country’s first female Wimbledon champion in 1998. Yet perhaps the most striking thread can be traced back to Martina Navrátilová, Prague-born, who secured the singles title nine times while representing the United States.
“It’s a tradition at this point,” Nosková said after defeating Marta Kostyuk in straight sets, when asked about the enduring Czech success. “Grass lets us use many sides of the game. If it’s serve-and-volley in the old days, or the slices and volleys of this modern era, grass gives us room to maneuver. We now have all these facets we can employ, and it’s evident in our results. We’ve got countless tennis schools in the Czech Republic, even though we’re a small country. We benefit from a large number of excellent coaches who have trained some of the greatest players around the world. I don’t pretend to know the exact formula. If I did, surely other countries would copy it. I’m proud of my country for producing so many great champions.”
Muchová, who with Nosková overcame a roller-coaster semi-final against Coco Gauff, saving match point before prevailing 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (12/10), is eight years Nosková’s elder and was a French Open runner-up three years ago. Even she struggles to pinpoint the full reason for the Czech Republic’s Wimbledon dominance, ahead of a final against her doubles partner from the Olympics. World No. 9 Muchová reflected: “It’s nice to be asked about this because it’s good for the sport in our country. We’re a small nation, but we have a great history in Czech tennis. The sheer number of us who succeed helps. When I was younger, watching players just a few years older succeed gave me belief that I could do it too. It’s wonderful that a small country can produce so many top players.”
Nosková and Muchová spent time on Centre Court on Thursday, preparing for their first appearance in the arena’s storied history. One of them will claim her first Grand Slam title in only her second match under the historic roof. “As a kid, I didn’t realise how special this tournament was,” said Nosková, 21. “Karolina and I had a chance to practice there, and it was my first time there not even as a spectator. It felt different—almost unreal—and it’s an experience that’s hard to describe.” The path to a championship here is always steep, but the Czech contingent have already made this tournament feel like a homegrown celebration, even as the final looms and the question remains: who will lift Wimbledon’s iconic trophy?