“At this moment it’s a tradition”: Linda Nosková, Karolína Muchová script of the all-Czech Wimbledon final for a new generation

Linda Nosková and Karolína Muchová (AP Photos) Czech women’s tennis will celebrate another historic chapter at Wimbledon as two of its brightest new stars, Linda Nosková and Karolína Muchová, booked their places in the all-Czech women’s singles final, ensuring the All England Club crowns another champion from the country’s remarkable production line-up.The blockbuster guarantees the third Czech singles champion in four years, following the triumph of Markéta Vondroušová in 2023 and Barbora Krejčíková in 2024, underscoring the country’s continued dominance on grass.The 21-year-old Noskova defeated Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 6-4, while ninth seed Muchova survived a thrilling battle against Coco Gauff 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (10) after a memorable super tiebreak in the deciding set.

A legacy built by champions, carried on by a new generation

For Nosková, advancing to the Wimbledon final has a deeper emotional meaning. The young Czech revealed that watching compatriot Petra Kvitova lift the Wimbledon trophy in 2011 was the moment that brought her to tennis.“That’s maybe one of the first moments when I realized that such a sport as tennis exists,” Nosková said after her debut on the center court.Now she hopes that her own journey will inspire the next generation of Czech youth.“It’s a tradition at this point,” she said with a smile, referring to her country’s extraordinary success at Wimbledon.The Czech connection with the All England Club goes back decades. Martina Navrátilová’s record nine Wimbledon singles titles laid the groundwork, with Jana Novotná winning the crown in 1998, while Krejčíková thanked Novotná after last year’s victory, saying the late champion encouraged her to play professional tennis.Muchová believes that constant exposure to successful compatriots supported Czech excellence.“We have a great history of Czech tennis,” she said. “When I was younger, when I looked up to girls who were maybe five years older than me, you could see them succeed. So it gave me the belief that I could do it too.”Navrátilová herself watched from the center court, expecting another unforgettable Czech celebration.“I can relax and just enjoy myself because we will have another Czech winner,” said Navrátilová. “Czech women are definitely doing well at Wimbledon. That’s insanely good.”Nosková also offered her own explanation as to why Czech female players are doing well on grass.“We are very creative,” she said. “Grass allows us to use all sides of tennis – serves and volleys in the old days, slices and volleys in this new era. We have all these sides that grass allows us and it shows.”

Muchová survives the Gauff thriller

Muchova’s path to the final was anything but straightforward.The Czech star squandered a match point before eventually overcoming Gauff in a dramatic super tiebreak that featured sharp swings, breathtaking rallies and a spectacular diving forehand volley reminiscent of Boris Becker’s famous Wimbledon feats.“It was such a big fight,” Muchova said. “It’s been a roller coaster.Reflecting on the nerve-wracking finish, she added: “You’re up and down in 10 seconds. You’ve got a match point, then a match point down. No time to think, but very nerve-wracking. I’m really kind of shaking and trying to sink it in.”Gauff let herself rue the missed opportunity after hitting a forehand drop shot on her first match point.“The rebound caught me a little by surprise. I just panicked a little,” admitted the American.Calling it “experience,” Gauff added: “Every great champion has had it happen in their career. Maybe it’s something I need to be at their level.”