Key events
From Henman Hill to Arthur's Seat?
Second set: Kostyuk 4-6, 3-3 Noskova* (*denotes next server)
15-0, 30-0, 40-0, game Kostyuk. They're all square in the second set and the Ukrainian is right back in this. Credit to Kostyuk, after what happened to her in the Roland Garros semi-finals. She's such a fine player to watch when she's in full flow, and hopefully Centre Court will get to see that now.
Kostyuk breaks: Kostyuk 4-6, 2-3 Noskova* (*denotes next server)
Noskova has done such a fine job of neutralising Kostyuk's ferocious forehand, but Kostyuk does unleash to move to 0-30. Noskova recovers to 40-30, and still hasn't faced a break point, but she is extended to deuce. Kostyuk desperately needs to step it up here … and she's fist-pumping with more fire than she's shown before when Noskova hits long! Kostyuk has her first break point of this semi-final … lands a good backhand cross-court return … and then runs around her backhand to nail an inside-out forehand winner! She's screaming, her box is screaming and even some members of the exhausted crowd have found enough energy to leap to their feet. Is this game on? Let's hope so.
Noskova breaks: Kostyuk 4-6, 1-3 Noskova* (*denotes next server)
Noskova has gone slightly under the radar at this Wimbledon – despite winning more singles matches on grass than anyone on tour in the past two years – because she doesn't have huge grand slam pedigree, having only once reached the quarter-finals of a a major, at the 2024 Australian Open, before this tournament. Not that you'd know that right now, the 21-year-old looks as if the Centre Court is her backyard, as she advances to 0-40 on Kostyuk's serve. And she breaks to love when Kostyuk clunks her forehand into the net. Kostyuk hammers her racket into her shoe; she needs to wake up quickly, or this semi-final will soon be over.
First set: Kostyuk* 4-6, 1-2 Noskova (*denotes next server)
With Kostyuk serving at 40-0, my computer freezes, as does Kostyuk perhaps, because once the swirling circle of doom disappears it's 40-15. But Kostyuk holds on the next point. The crowd, perhaps (understandably) exhausted after the first semi-final and the intense heat, still haven't quite got into this, they could really do with a Kostyuk break to rouse them, but Noskova doesn't oblige, as she comes through on serve to 15 too.
First set: Kostyuk* 4-6, 0-1 Noskova (*denotes next server)
Kostyuk, after working with a psychologist, has been much more mentally tough this season, having previously been prone to turn a setback into a full-blown crisis. But she was overwhelmed in the French Open semi-finals last month, and will that scar now be itching? She won't want to hear that Noskova has won 24 out of 25 matches this year when she's won the first set. And Noskova underlines her superiority by getting the second-set scoreboard moving with a hold to 30.
Noskova wins the first set 6-4
Noskova replies with a love hold of her own, before reaching 0-30 on Kostyuk's serve. Kostyuk attempts a one-two punch but hits into the tramlines! It hands over three set points to Noskova … the first comes and goes … but Kostyuk, disappointingly, double faults on the second. An anti-climactic way to end the set, especially after the high drama in the previous set on this court between Muchova and Gauff, but it leaves Noskova one set away from setting up a first all-Czech final!
First set: Kostyuk 4-4 Noskova* (*denotes next server)
Kostyuk's most straightforward hold so far: 15-0, 30-0, 40-0, game, with a piercing inside-out forehand. She's the second Ukrainian woman to play in the Wimbledon semi-finals after Elina Svitolina in 2019 and 2023, and she's looking to become the first to reach the final, amid the testing backdrop of Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine and a Russian missile hitting close to Kostyuk's family home earlier this summer. She seems to have a healthy perspective on tennis as a result; of course she wants to win, but she knows her country is going through something much bigger.
First set: Kostyuk* 3-4 Noskova (*denotes next server)
Kostyuk has already won three times as many games as she did in the first set of her French Open semi-final defeat by Mirra Andreeva last month. She's looking far more assured, despite constantly glancing at her coach Sandra Zaniewska, and is pushing on the Noskova serve at 40-30, but errs with her forehand before running for the shade of an umbrella and ice towel. Plus an energy gel and banana for good measure too.
More on the Evert and Navratilova documentary I was talking about:
First set: Kostyuk 3-3 Noskova* (*denotes next server)
Kostyuk hasn't held the serving authority she did against Paolini, but she saves the first break point of the semi-final at 30-40 with a timely first ace. Kostyuk then pulls off a one-two punch straight out of the tennis textbook to move to advantage … but then races forward to the short ball and inexplicably nets! Ace No 2 gets her back to advantage … but another error follows. Kostyuk gets the job done on the next two points, and she's c'moning loudly.
First set: Kostyuk* 2-3 Noskova (*denotes next server)
Another deuce game. “It's hot,†says Martina Navratilova on the commentary, somewhat stating the obvious. Alas, Chris Evert isn't with Navratilova and the BBC at this Wimbledon as she undergoes treatment for ovarian cancer for the third time. Have any of you watched the new documentary on Navratilova and Evert, btw? I haven't yet, though it's supposed to be brilliant. There aren't many other sportspeople who shared a rivalry that was as strong as their friendship. Federer and Nadal comes to mind. And Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. And Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. There's an idea for a Joy of Six if we haven't already done it. But back to the matter at hand: Noskova holds after a third deuce, but no break points. There still hasn't been one of those.
First set: Kostyuk 2-2 Noskova* (*denotes next server)
Kostyuk, having not faced a single break point against Paolini, is in danger of sliding BP down at 30-all, but is saved when Noskova nets. Noskova then drags Kostyuk back from 40-30 to deuce, and from Kostyuk's advantage to deuce, but Kostyuk claims the game from her third game point. And some obligatory style notes: Kostyuk, who's given Naomi Osaka a run for her money as the best-dressed player at this year's Wimbledon, is once again wearing the beautiful lace dress inspired by her own wedding gown. Noskova has gone for a more no-nonsense number.
First set: Kostyuk* 1-2 Noskova (*denotes next server)
Noskova and Kostyuk start where they finished off in their quarter-finals (Kostyuk was SO impressive against Jasmine Paolini, hitting the 2024 runner-up off the court), with a hold to 15 apiece, before Noskova betters that with a hold to love.
Also going on:
These two, like Muchova and Gauff, are playing in their first Wimbledon semi-final and have met each other only once before, with Kostyuk winning on the Madrid clay in May, when the Ukrainian lifted the title on her way to building a streak of 21 wins in 22 matches this summer. The grass, though, should help Noskova. This will be first-strike tennis between two huge hitters; I wouldn't want to be a ball in this one. But I think the match is on Kostyuk's racket, because of her superior athleticism. Can she handle the occasion though? She didn't in the French Open semi-finals last month, when she was soundly beaten by the eventual champion Mirra Andreeva, and the 21-year-old Noskova is good enough to take advantage if she freezes again (despite a current temperature of about 33C).
Right I'm back and I've fuelled myself up with coffee to get through the second semi-final – just in case I don't already have enough adrenaline after that tie-break. Kostyuk and Noskova are in attendance too, having stepped on to Centre Court a few minutes ago, but the spectators haven't yet reappeared. The stands are virtually empty.
What a semi-final. The first sets were 6-2 and 6-1 … and this could still go down as the match of the tournament. That third-set tussle took longer than those two combined, with Muchova overcoming the pressure and pain to prevail and reach her second slam final, after the 2023 French Open, when she lost to Iga Swiatek. The difference this time is she won't be facing a top seed, but Noskova or Kostyuk; at 29, she knows she may never get a better chance.
Muchova, somehow, is still able to speak. “Honestly it was such a big fight, a rollercoaster, match point down, I don't even know what I'm saying. I'm shaking, but I'm good. The atmosphere here was indescribable. Not many players get to play on this court. It's incredible. I actually came and warmed up with Linda [Noskova, her fellow Czech who plays in the second semi-final against Marta Kostyuk], so I took a photo. This court is beautiful.â€
Yes, Muchova's win means we could have a first ever all-Czech final and a sixth Czech-born women's winner, following on from Navratilova, Novotna, Kvitova, Vondrousova and Krejcikova. Czech players + grass really = the perfect combination.
Muchova beats Gauff 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (10)!!
… Gauff doesn't land her first serve, does her second … Muchova is sending Gauff left and right and left and right and left and right and eventually Gauff nets! Muchova, after the most dramatic of match tie-breaks, has somehow squeezed over the line to beat the former US Open and French Open champion, and she's into her first Wimbledon final! Muchova has her head in her hands; she can't believe it. And an absolutely gutted Gauff sprints off court in a fraction of the time that absorbing breaker took. She'll be haunted by that miss on match point for many sleeps to come.
… now Gauff slips, but Muchova was already on top in the point, and the Czech has a second MP at 11-10 …
… Muchova serves, Gauff chops back the return … Muchova volleys … Gauff just about gets it back … and OH MY DAYS! MUCHOVA SLIPS! 10-10 …
… this time Gauff does better at the net, but Muchova, under the most intense of pressure, magics a marvellous lob and now she has her first MP at 10-9 …!
… so Gauff, serving at 9-8, has match point … it's on her racket and she glides forward to put away a surely unmissable forehand … and nets! P-R-E-S-S-U-R-E! And they. Go. On. At. 9-9 …
… so it's 8-8, who will get a first match point? And just to add to the drama, Muchova is given a time violation! The Czech, perhaps distracted, nets her first serve, aborts her ball toss on the second before ballooning beyond the baseline once more …!
… Muchova, leading 8-7, has the next two points on her serve, so could finally get this done, but nothing about this neverending third set has been remotely straightforward and Muchova goes long …!
… Muchova edges ahead for 7-6, an unreturned serve gets Gauff back to 7-7 but Gauff can't move ahead for the first time in this breaker, as she hits only her second double faults at the most inopportune of moments … !
… another Muchova shot hits the tape, but this one doesn't land in, and from Muchova leading 4-1, they're level at 6-6 – AND I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE STILL DOING THIS BECAUSE I CAN BARELY TYPE BECAUSE OF THE TENSION …
… Gauff can't afford to concede the next two points on her serve, and she executes the perfect pass, before refusing to be distracted by Muchova's shot clipping the tape as she reduces her arrears to 6-5 … they've saved the best in this match until the very last …
… which is soon 4-3. As this is the final set, it's the first to 10 points, by the way, not seven … and Muchova is a heap on the grass after the next point, despite it going her way, as she dives Boris Becker-style to make a winning volley, and it's 5-3 … make that 6-3 after another punchy serve, she's found her first serve when it matters …
… she's still grimacing between points, though, and even more so when Gauff somehow steals the point despite the cutest of drop shots from Muchova! They change ends at 4-2 …
… and outrageous serve-volley from Muchova backs up that mini break, and then she slams down one of her fastest serves of the match, 113mph, for 4-1!
After all of the injury problems Muchova has had throughout her career, it would be a huge shame if this is decided by another injury. Muchova claims the first mini-break, though, for 2-1, when Gauff, after a near-flawless performance at the net in this set, errs with her backhand volley …
Third set: Muchova* 6-2, 1-6, 6-6 Gauff (*denotes next server)
Muchova, moving a little slower and wincing and bending over after every point, still manages to chase down the drop at 40-30 … but hits wide. If she makes it through this semi-final, will she be OK for the final? Hopefully it's just a stitch because of the heat and stress of this situation. Which is about to get a whole load more stressful, because we've got ourselves a match tie-break!
Third set: Muchova 6-2, 1-6, 6-5 Gauff* (*denotes next server)
At 0-15, Gauff batters to one corner and then the other for the winner! 0-30 on Muchova's serve … Gauff's return is so close to landing for another winner and three break points … but it's just long. A collective Wimblegasp follows and it's 15-30. A lengthy point follows, forehands, backhands, slicing, dicing, net rushing, volleys, you name it … and Muchova is victorious! 30-all. She takes a bit longer before serving, trying to regain her breath, and it works, because the Czech crunches a winner. But she's wincing in pain and holding her abs; perhaps she's pulled something. She still manages to take the next point, however, to hold.
Third set: Muchova* 6-2, 1-6, 5-5 Gauff (*denotes next server)
Gauff, now serving to stay in the semi-final, gratefully accepts a Muchova error on the first point, before quickly grabbing the second poing at the net. And 30-0 becomes 40-15 after some more assured net play; she's been absolutely terrific there in this set. Muchova's forehand then flies beyond the baseline and. They're. Level. Once. More.
Third set: Muchova 6-2, 1-6, 5-4 Gauff* (*denotes next server)
At one set all, four games all and 30-all, the stakes couldn't be higher; a few wrong moves from either player and the semi-final could soon be over. Will it be game point or break point? Break point, when Gauff punishes a weak second serve and Muchova prods long! But Gauff, remember, has won only two of 11 BPs this match. And she doesn't take this one either, despite a tame 80mph second serve right at her favoured backhand. That was an opportunity missed. She gets another BP, though, with a brilliant and gutsy drop shot, lob and smash combo! Muchova can't buy a first serve right now, she lands the second … and Gauff goes edgily wide! And Muchova somehow escapes from there! That game will be keeping Gauff awake tonight if she doesn't win.
Third set: Muchova* 6-2, 1-6, 4-4 Gauff (*denotes next server)
But now it's Gauff's turn to send a statement that she's not going anywhere: 15-0, 30-0, 40-0. She's hit only one double fault today, which given the regularity at which her serve can break down, is very impressive. And Gauff takes the game after the point of the match – Gauff immoveable at the net, Muchova staying in it from the baseline – until Gauff eventually emerges victorious! Cue one of the biggest cheers from the crowd so far. They don't want this to end and neither do I.
Third set: Muchova 6-2, 1-6, 4-3 Gauff* (*denotes next server)
Muchova turns up the heat with a commanding hold to 15. Not much more to write here; that was emphatic. Now I'm leaning towards Muchova – I just can't make up my mind – the head is clearly getting to me. Not Muchova, though, who has an ice pack on her head at the changeover. Right now she looks like the coolest person around.
Third set: Muchova* 6-2, 1-6, 3-3 Gauff (*denotes next server)
That pressure builds a little at 0-15, but Gauff is soon back at 15-all and then 30-15, and the Floridian, so comfortable in this Wimbledon sauna, is covering every blade of grass on the fourth point but a backhand volley from Muchova on the stretch – those hands! – makes it 30-all. And Gauff finds her serve when she needs it to get back on level terms. This match is building to its denouement, and if you really push me for an answer I'm going for Gauff, but Muchova hasn't shown any signs of blinking so far …
