10 July,2026 09:09 AM IST | London | AFP
Karolina Muchova returns to Coco Gauff during the semi-final. Pic/AFP
Czech World No. 9 Karolina Muchova saved a match point to reach her first Wimbledon final with a pulsating three-set win against USA's World No. 7 Coco 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.
In the final, Muchova will either face compatriot Linda Noskova or Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk, who meet in the other semi-final later on Thursday.
In her first Wimbledon semi-final, Muchova exorcised the ghosts of her previous dismal experiences in south-west London.
The 29-year-old had lost in the first round on her previous four appearances at Wimbledon.
Gauff had won six of her seven previous meetings with Muchova, but the Czech won their most recent encounter in Stuttgart this year and once again she got the better of the two-time Grand Slam champion.
"It sounds really nice to be in the final. It was such a big fight. You are up and down, no time to think. It was a very nerve-wracking match. I'm still shaking and trying to let it sink in," an emotional Muchova said.
After battling injuries earlier in her career, Muchova is finally fulfilling her potential, but even she has been taken aback by her success at Wimbledon over the last fortnight.
Muchova takes "pills, sprays, eyedrops" to manage a grass allergy, but she is no longer adverse to playing on the lawns of the All England Club.
Two
No. of Grand Slam finals that Karolina Muchova has qualified for
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