Tennis Wimbledon Wimbledon Women's Singles -

Karolina Muchova 'shaking' after dramatic three-set win over Coco Gauff sets up maiden Wimbledon final

React to this story

Karolina Muchova booked her place in a first Wimbledon final at the age of 29, after overcoming Coco Gauff in a dramatic three-set battle on Centre Court. Muchova was "shaking" as she began to process her achievement.

Highlights: Muchova and Noskova reach Wimbledon final

Video credit: SNTV

The 10th-seeded Czech produced a composed display in the decisive moments to edge past the two-time Grand Slam champion 6-2 1-6 7-6 (11-9), adding to the victory she recorded over Gauff in Stuttgart earlier this year.

It marked the 21st top-10 win of Muchova's career and continued her outstanding form on grass, with the victory improving her record on the surface to 11-1 this season.

Muchova - who will face fellow Czech Linda Noskova in Saturday's final after she came through her semi-final 6-4 6-4 against Marta Kostyuk - appeared on course to seal victory when she held two match points on serve.

Wimbledon

Who is Arthur Fery? Britain’s young star who is into Wimbledon semi-finals

4 hours ago

However, the occasion seemed to get to her as she tightened up, sending a pair of ground strokes long to gift Gauff a match point on the American's serve.

Gauff then looked destined to complete the comeback when a forehand into an open court beckoned, only to dump the ball into the net in what could go down as one of the most costly misses of her Wimbledon career.

Muchova was handed another opportunity to close out the match but slipped just as the winning shot presented itself. Undeterred, she crafted a fresh opening with a beautifully judged lob before finally converting her third opportunity to book her place in a maiden Wimbledon final.

"It sounds really nice to be in a final," Muchova said. "Honestly, it was such a big fight. It was a such a rollercoaster, up and down. Match point up, and then match point down. You don't have time to think.

"It was very nerve-wrecking. I don't even know what I'm saying, I'm shaking and trying to sink it in. The atmosphere here is indescribable. Thank you everyone who came and supported us."

Muchova appeared to suffer from stomach cramps during the final-set super tie-break, but she eased concerns over her fitness, adding: "I'm okay, I was just trying to catch a breath. I'm good, I'm good."

With Noskova winning the other semi-final against the Ukrainian Kostyuk, Wimbledon is set for an all-Czech final.

Since Petra Kvitova was crowned champion in 2011, the winner has hailed from Czechia a further three times. No other country has boasted more than their four winners in that span.

"There are so many of us tennis players and not many of us get to play on this court," Muchova added. "It is such a history of our sport, so it is very special.

Coco Gauff missed a gilt-edged opportunity on match point

Image credit: Getty Images

"We came to warm up here with Linda [Noskova] before the semis. So I took a photo, and it's such a nice moment to experience this. This court is beautiful."

Gauff's hopes of adding a Wimbledon title to her French Open and US Open crowns ended in heartbreaking fashion as she was edged out in a gripping deciding-set tie-break.

The highest seed remaining in the women's draw was bidding to become the first American champion since Serena Williams in 2016, but her narrow loss was sealed after two-and-a-half hours.

Muchova dominated the opening set before Gauff responded emphatically after leaving the court to regroup, levelling the contest with a commanding second set. The decider stayed on serve to produce a tense first-to-10 tie-break.

Muchova recovered after letting two match points slip on her own serve, while Gauff squandered a golden opportunity to complete the comeback when she put a forehand into the net with the court at her mercy.

The Czech finally sealed victory at the third attempt, forcing one last error from Gauff to book her place in a debut Wimbledon final.

Gauff: I didn't change my mind on crucial shot

"I'm going to think about it tonight," Gauff said in her press conference. "I don't know if I've ever lost a match after a match point. If I did, I don't remember the last time. I don't know how long it will take me.

"I don't think that long, honestly. Right after, I had a lot of emotions right after the match. But now I'm just, like, one decision away, maybe I'm sitting in this press conference in a different mood.

Muchova held her nerve to prevail in the super tiebreak

Image credit: Getty Images

"I mean, I look at Roger [Federer] losing match points here, Jannik [Sinner] obviously at Roland-Garros. Every great champion has this in their career. Maybe this is something I need to be on their level."

When asked how much decision-making was going into that crucial drop shot, Gauff said: "Honestly, I didn't change my mind too much.

"I think I feel like if I had to do it over, I probably would have gone for a forehand slice down the line. The ball bounce wasn't really that high.

"I don't know if I should have hit a forehand or not. I don't know. I have to watch it back honestly to say.

"It's tough because it was on my match point, but if this point happens at 1-1 in the tiebreaker, we wouldn't be sitting here talking about it. But it happened on match point.

"It's a learning experience. I know I can do better and improve on that, and go with a higher-margin shot in a pressure moment."

Highlights: Fery's fairytale run continues as semi-finals take shape

Video credit: SNTV

When asked if she would be watching the final or switching off from tennis and social media, the 22-year-old added: "Sometimes I watch, and sometimes I don't watch. I don't know. We'll see. When I get home, if I'm up, I might have it on.

"The girls who are left, I think it's going to be a great match. I'll be online, and I've probably already got some hate comments and stuff.

"It's okay. It just makes you stronger. I'll come on the winning end next time, and I'll be sure to tag 'em (smiling)."

Add TNT Sports as a preferred source here to enjoy more content like this.

Enjoy daily highlights from Wimbledon 2026 on tntsports.co.uk and the TNT Sports app, plus watch and stream highlights each evening and the men's and women's singles finals live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

Wimbledon