All-Czech women’s final at Wimbledon continues the country’s tennis legacy - The Globe and Mail
An all-Czech women’s final is set to take place at Wimbledon, ensuring another champion from the country will be crowned. Linda Noskova secured her spot in the final after defeating Marta Kostyuk in straight sets. She will face Karolina Muchova, who advanced by beating Coco Gauff in a match that included a super tiebreak.
This upcoming final means there will be a third Czech female champion at the All England Club in four years, after Marketa Vondrousova in 2023 and Barbora Krejcikova in 2024. Noskova, at 21 years old, becomes the youngest finalist since 2018. She expressed her focus on the final, stating, “I don’t know how I feel. It was a great match. I stayed calm the whole time, which was the main goal. But I always realise any success or a good tournament after it’s done. Right now, I am focusing on the final.”
Noskova’s path to the final
Noskova delivered a clinical performance against Kostyuk, winning 6-4, 6-4. This marks her first major final. She had not previously advanced past the fourth round at Wimbledon, reaching that stage last year, and her best Grand Slam result was a quarter-final appearance at the 2024 Australian Open. Noskova’s serve was a key factor in her semi-final victory, with her first serve percentage being notably higher in the second set compared to the first.
She faced only one break point during the match, at 3-1 in the second set, and capitalized on Kostyuk’s errors, breaking her opponent three times. Noskova noted the importance of her serve, explaining, “It has been a great help for me lately. On grass or hard courts, your serve is the most powerful tool. I try to focus on myself when I have my service game. Whatever happens on the return games, happens.”
Noskova spent approximately one hour and 19 minutes to secure her place in the final. She won 83 per cent of points at the net and 40 per cent of receiving points, converting half of the six break points she earned against Kostyuk.
A rich tennis tradition
The success of Czech female players at Wimbledon is part of a long-standing tradition. Martina Navratilova, who won a record nine singles titles at the All England Club, inspired many, including Jana Novotna, the 1998 Wimbledon winner. Novotna, in turn, encouraged Barbora Krejcikova into professional tennis.
Muchova reflected on this legacy, saying, “We have a great history of Czech tennis. When I was younger, looking up to the girls who were like maybe five years older than I was, you can just see them doing so well. So it gave me the belief that I can as well do it. That’s how it worked for me.” Navratilova herself was present at Centre Court on Thursday, providing TV commentary, and is expected to attend Saturday’s final from the Royal Box.
Noskova and Muchova are familiar with each other, having played doubles together at the Paris Olympics in 2024. Both players experienced playing on Centre Court for the first time during their semi-final matches. Muchova’s appearance in the final marks her second Grand Slam final, having previously lost to Iga Swiatek in the 2023 French Open championship match.
Noskova offered some theories on the consistent Czech excellence on grass courts, stating, “We are very creative, so grass allows us to kind of use any side of tennis. If it’s serve and volley back in the old days, if it’s slices and volleys in this new era. I would say that we have all these sides that we can use, that grass allows us, and it’s showing.” The women’s singles final will take place on Saturday afternoon.
Noskova maintains a superstitious routine, which she plans to continue for the final. She mentioned having specific behaviours daily, including using the same routines, lunch, bathroom, and sink. She expressed her excitement for the upcoming match against Muchova, describing her as “a great fighter, an incredible player but mainly and mostly she is a great person. I’m glad I get to play my first final with her.”
Source: theglobeandmail.com
