Just as there was at Roland Garros, there will be a first-time Grand Slam champion crowned when the Wimbledon women’s singles final is played on Saturday.
It is without question a surprising matchup between fellow Czechs Karolina Muchova Linda Noskova, but it is one that did not come from completely out of the blue. Both women are ranked in the top 12 and both have been red hot throughout this grass-court summer. Both players boast 11-1 records on the green stuff with one WTA title, Muchova in Bad Homburg and Noskova in Berlin.
Both players have been awesome so far at the All-England Club. Muchova’s path to her second Grand Slam final included victories over 2024 Wimbledon winner Barbora Krejcikova, four-time major champ Naomi Osaka, and two-time slam champion Coco Gauff. Noskova has won her last three matches all in straight sets, a stretch that features a win over 2025 Aussie Open champion Madison Keys.
But that may be where the similarities come to an end.
Muchova, 29, is a veteran of the WTA circuit — plus she has history of success on the major stage. The world No. 9 has now reached at least the QFs of a major eight times, including at least the semis on four occasions and the final once. She played very well in her first slam title match, falling to Iga Swiatek 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 at Roland Garros in 2023. Noskova, 21, is a relative newcomer to the scene. The world No. 12 made a run to the last eight of the 2024 Australian Open but after that did nothing in Grand Slams until this fortnight. Prior to arriving in SW19, Noskova’s nine most recent major results were second round, second round, first round, first round, first round, fourth round, third round, third round, and first round.
Noskova is arguably playing slightly better tennis, but Muchova is battle-tested and has the experience advantage. It should be a fantastic match, and I’m leaning toward Muchova to come up big in the pressure-packed moments.
Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand. You can follow him on Twitter at @Dimonator.