Karolina Muchova and Linda Noskova into all-Czech final as Coco Gauff, Marta Kostyuk knocked out; Cruz Hewitt makes boys’ singles semi-final
London: Carolina Muchova and Linda Noskova will compete in the first Czech singles final in Wimbledon history after their semi-final wins.
They became the first Czech couple to reach the women’s semi-finals at the All England club since Petra Kvitova and Lucie Safarova in 2014. Kvitova, who was Noskova’s idol growing up, won her second Wimbledon title that year.
Now Muchova or either Noskova will join countrywomen Martina Navratilova (who defected to the United States in 1975), Jana Novotna, Kvitova, Marketa Vondrousova and Barbora Krejcikova as Wimbledon champions.
This will be the third Czech female athlete to win the tournament in the last four years.
“We have a great history [in] Czech tennis,” Muchova said.
“When I was younger, when I looked at the girls who were maybe five years older than me, you could see how well they were performing, which gave me the belief that I could do it too. It’s nice that we’re from such a small country and have so many good players.”
Muchova, 29, became the first player to make it through to Saturday’s final, edging out American Coco Gauff, one of the sport’s greatest fighters and biggest stars, in a dramatic final set tiebreaker.
The 10th-ranked Czech player, who finished second to Iga Swiatek in the 2023 Roland-Garros decider and has had several injury problems throughout her career, managed to get a match point before beating Gauff 6-2, 1-6, 7-6. [12-10] In an extraordinary finish.
Noskova enjoyed a simpler pass, breaking the in-form Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk, who has reached the Roland-Garros semi-finals, in the final game of each set to complete a 6-4 6-4 victory that sealed her first grand slam singles final.
“Being in the final sounds really good,” Muchova said.
“To be honest, it was a big fight with ups and downs, an up and down rollercoaster. Within 10 seconds you’d have a match point, then you’d be match point down, so you didn’t have time to think. “It was so frustrating and I don’t even know what I’m saying – I’m shaking and just trying to get myself together. [let it] The atmosphere was indescribable.”
Serving at 9-8 in the super tiebreak, Gauff will forever regret her decision and execution after a sizzling first serve with a failed drop shot attempt that hit the net.
Both players put in a breathtaking tennis performance in the tiebreak, but each also had heartbreaking moments that would haunt anyone who came up short.
Gauff’s match point followed the contentious decision by chair umpire Alison Hughes to issue a time violation warning at eight to Muchova, who was about to serve. Muchova missed her first serve, hit the next ball, then served her second serve, but hit a backhand shot well beyond the baseline.
Then, after Muchova took her first match point to 10-9 with a stunning forehand winner, she lost her footing at the net and watched as Gauff’s forehand shot sailed past her for the win.
It was Gauff’s turn to slide on the next point, but Muchova was already on top at this stage before firing a forehand into open court to seize her second chance to book a final place.
There would be no change as double grand slam champion Gauff’s desperate attempt to extend the contest ended with her forehand hitting the net during the run.
Before these two weeks, Gauff, who had not won a match on grass in two years, was trying to recover from a one-set deficit for the third straight match and win her fifth straight three-setter.
Muchova was in complete control throughout the opening set, before Gauff, plagued by errors in the early stages, came back to life with an outstanding second set performance that set up the thrilling finish.
Noskova, who has won more wins on grass court than any other woman in the last two years and won the Berlin Open before Wimbledon, carried her strong first serve to victory against Kostyuk. The calm 21-year-old made only one mistake when he served after taking a 3-1 lead from the set.
Kostyuk hit the winner with a forehand to take the break and then let out a guttural roar, her coach Sandra Zaniewska also standing in the stands.
But any hopes that this would be a turning point soon faded. Kostyuk could not advance further on Noskova’s serve and faltered in the 10th game, as she did in the first set.
A double fault cost Kostyuk in the first set, and he fell behind again at 4-5 in the second set, 0-40. Kostyuk fended off a match point, but blasted a forehand wide the next game as his final bid for a first grand slam title ended.
“For me, it’s always about just focusing on myself and my game,” Noskova said.
“I know that when I am at my best, I can play with the best players in the world and achieve a great result. [today] “This is the final of a grand slam.”
Cruz in the semifinals
Cruz Hewitt’s charge in the Wimbledon men’s singles draw defeated ninth-seeded Bulgarian Dimitar Kisimov 6-1, 6-2 to advance to the semi-finals.
The 17-year-old rising star, ranked No. 606 on the men’s tour, paced Kisimov with 10 aces among 22 winners and has yet to lose a set in four matches, including beating unseeded opponents in three straight contests this week.
Hewitt’s father, former world No.1 Lleyton, won the men’s title at the All England club in 2002, but lost in the last 16 of the men’s junior singles in 1997.
“Unbelievable [to be doing this at a tournament my dad won] Because I still remember going to these fields when I was little and coming to watch my father and my whole family play. [are here]so it’s absolutely beautiful,” Hewitt said.
“But this is just another step. I don’t think the job is over yet. I would love to play another good game next game and that’s all I’m focused on.”
Hewitt’s opponent in the semi-finals, Dutch 11th seed Thijs Boogaard, promises to be his toughest opponent yet. Boogaard, 18, won a round at the ATP 250 competition on grass in ‘s-Hertogenbosch last month and pushed Daniil Medvedev into a final-set tiebreak.
The last Australian to reach the men’s final at Wimbledon was Alex de Minaur in 2016.
Marc McGowan traveled to London with the support of Tennis Australia.
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