Muchova defeats Gauff in marathon Wimbledon semi-final to reach final
Czech seed Karolina Muchova rallied from match point down to beat Coco Gauff 6-2 1-6 7-6 (12-10) in the Wimbledon semi-finals, securing a place in the championship match.
Karolina Muchova overcame a match point and an extended deciding-set tie-break to defeat Coco Gauff and advance to her first Wimbledon final. The Czech, the tournament's 10th seed, won 6-2 1-6 7-6 (12-10) on Centre Court in sweltering conditions.
Gauff, a two-time Grand Slam champion, fought back from 4-1 down in the tie-break and held a match point before a forehand clipped the net tape. Muchova also missed a match point earlier in the set, but ultimately prevailed after a 2 hour 35 minute contest.
"It was very nerve-wracking. I don't even know what I'm saying, I'm shaking and trying to sink it in," the 29-year-old said after the match.
"Honestly, it was such a big fight. It was a rollercoaster – match point and then match point down. You don't have time to think," she added.
The win marks the third consecutive year a Czech player has reached the Wimbledon women's singles final, following Markéta Vondroušová and Barbora Krejčíková. Muchova will face either compatriot Linda Nosková or Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk in Saturday's final.
Muchova, who recovered from a wrist injury that sidelined her for ten months last season, had previously reached four major semi-finals, including a final at the 2023 French Open.