Muchova beats Gauff in ‘roller-coaster’ deciding tie-break to reach Wimbledon final

Muchova beats Gauff in ‘roller-coaster’ deciding tie-break to reach Wimbledon final Last updated 09 July 2026 4:44pm BST Save Share article Log in or Subscribe Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Add us as preferred source Add us as preferred source Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Karolina Muchova won an epic clash on Centre Court  Credit: Eddie Mulholland for The Telegraph Sonia Twigg Women's Sport Reporter. Uche Amako (live updates), at Wimbledon Last updated 09 July 2026 4:44pm BST Save Share article Log in or Subscribe Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Add us as preferred source Add us as preferred source Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Before a ball had been served in the Wimbledon women’s semi-finals, it was already confirmed that the tournament would have a new champion. But as Karolina Muchova edged past Coco Gauff in a nervy 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (12-10) win, whoever claims the Venus Rosewater Dish will also become a first-time grand slam winner. Gauff was the only player left in the women’s draw with the knowledge of what it takes to win a major, but in the early stages it almost felt as though the occasion got to her more than it affected Muchova. The Czech, who said she would perform a backflip for a second time in celebration only if she were able to win her first grand slam, will now have the chance to do so on Saturday. In the heat of Centre Court, it became a battle of who could keep themselves cool. Muchova showed no signs that she was over-awed by the occasion, her first Wimbledon semi-final, as she stormed to take the first set inside 40 minutes. The momentum of the match had swung like a pendulum throughout its 2hr 35min, with Gauff fighting back to win the second set decisively, and still it had more swings left when the American overhauled Muchova’s 4-1 lead in the tie-break. Just as Gauff had edged ahead in the tie-break at 9-8, she inexplicably netted a drop shot while in the ideal position, and from there, Muchova secured her place in her second grand slam final. Muchova was shaking in her post-match interview, saying she did not know what she was saying, while describing the match as a “roller-coaster”. Full report to follow... Latest updates Sonia Twigg Women's Sport Reporter. Uche Amako (live updates), at Wimbledon 4:40PM More reaction from Muchova Link copied to clipboard “There is so many of us tennis players and not many of us get to play on this court. It is such a history of our sport, so it is very special. We came to warm up here with Linda [Noskova] before the semis so I took a photo, so nice moment to experience this and this court is beautiful.” 4:35PM Relief for Muchova Link copied to clipboard Muchova celebrates her win Credit: Tolga Akmen/Shutterstock 4:31PM Muchova reacts Link copied to clipboard “It sounds really nice to be in a final. Honestly, was such a big fight. Was a rollercoaster. Was up and down. Match point 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 was indescribable, thank you everyone who came and supported us.” 4:15PM Devastating loss for Gauff Link copied to clipboard As Muchova takes the acclaim from the Centre Court crowd, Gauff quickly leaves the court. She will be thinking about that decision to hit a mid-court forehand drop shot instead of taking a proper swing for a long time. 4:13PM Muchova 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (12-10) Gauff - TIE-BREAK Link copied to clipboard Gauff volley, Muchova lobs her and the ball lands in, 10-9. Gauff forehand pass, Muchova slips and the ball is in, 10-10. Muchova forehand winner, 11-10. Second match point for Muchova. Muchova backhand down the line, Gauff gets there but nets the forehand, 12-10. GAME SET MATCH MUCHOVA. 4:10PM Muchova 6-2, 1-6, 6-6 (9-9) Gauff - TIE-BREAK Link copied to clipboard Gauff mis-hits a backhand into the tramlines, 7-6. Muchova gets a Gauff second serve but pushes her forehand into the tramlines, 7-7. Gauff completes shanks a second serve into the net, 8-7. That was the pressure. Muchova forehand long after dragging Gauff around the baseline, 8-8. Time violation warning given to Muchova... Muchova backhand long, 8-9. Now, that was pressure. Match point Gauff. Short Muchova return, Gauff opts for a drop shot forehand AND NETS, 9-9. Oh my word.  4:04PM Muchova 6-2, 1-6, 6-6 (6-6) Gauff - TIE-BREAK Link copied to clipboard Gauff first serve unreturned, 4-3. Gauff forehand pass and Muchova dives to finish with a volley winner, 5-3. Stunning finish.  114mph ace down the T from Muchova, 6-3. Gauff with a much-needed cross-court forehand winner, 6-4. Gauff forehand winner after dragging Muchova out of position, 6-5. Muchova’s forehand clips the net cord and the ball lands in the tramlines, 6-6. So close. 3:59PM Muchova 6-2, 1-6, 6-6 (4-2) Gauff - TIE-BREAK Link copied to clipboard Gauff frames a forehand high and wide, 1-0. On the back foot, Gauff finds the forehand winner, 1-1. Gauff sneaks in but nets the volley, 2-1. Gauff return right to the feet of Muchova, who digs out a brilliant volley winner, 3-1. Muchova first serve unreturned, 4-1. The point looks to be Muchova after a drop shot but Gauff gets there, flicks a backhand over the net and Muchova goes long with a volley, 4-2. 3:54PM Muchova 6-2, 1-6, 6-6 Gauff* Link copied to clipboard A pressure-free service game for Gauff as she holds to 30 and sets up a tie-break to decide the match.  Huge 10 minutes coming up! 3:50PM Muchova* 6-2, 1-6, 6-5 Gauff Link copied to clipboard Here comes Coco! She goes on the attack and finishes with a backhand winner, 0-30. Deep return by Gauff looks good but the ball lands just out, 15-30.  Another brilliant rally, both players going for it, Muchova drags Gauff into the net and beats her with a backhand winner down the line, 30-30. Muchova runs around her backhand whips a cross court forehand into the corner for a winner. Superb footwork and even better shot, 40-30. Muchova backhand into the open court and she holds to book herself a tie-break at least. 3:44PM Muchova 6-2, 1-6, 5-5 Gauff* Link copied to clipboard Confident start by Gauff as she moves to 30-0 with an overhead smash winner. Soft hands by Gauff to finish the point with a volley winner, 40-15. And she comes through when Muchova sends a forehand long. Will a 10-point tie-break decide the match? 3:40PM Muchova* 6-2, 1-6, 5-4 Gauff Link copied to clipboard Lovely forehand by Muchova back behind Gauff, who was moving to her left. Muchova backhand into the tramlines opens the door for Gauff. Serve and volley from Muchova. Gauff digs out a reply but Muchova finishes with volley winner, 30-30. Deep aggressive return by Gauff on Muchova’s second serve and she gets the error. Break point. Gauff gets a look at another second serve but dumps her backhand return into the net. Really poor shot given the circumstances. Great play by Gauff. She lobs Muchova and while the Czech gets the ball back, it is an easy overhead for Gauff. Break point. Wasteful from Gauff again as she puts a forehand into the tramlines, back to deuce. Muchova survives again. Will Gauff be made to regret not taking her chances? Muchova serves to Gauff  Credit: Daniel Hambury/Shutterstock 3:31PM Muchova 6-2, 1-6, 4-4 Gauff* Link copied to clipboard The serve has dominated this set so far and Gauff holds to love with a cool drop volley. This is starting to get tennis.  3:28PM Muchova* 6-2, 1-6, 3-2 Gauff Link copied to clipboard Gauff hustles to meet a Muchova drop shot, she flicks a forehand down the line and then finishes with an overhead winner. 113mph Muchova ace to finish the game. We are in the business end of the set now. 3:25PM Muchova 6-2, 1-6, 3-3 Gauff* Link copied to clipboard Longest rally of the match ends with Muchova stretching to put away a volley, 30-30. Excellent sliced first serve by Gauff is too much for Muchova and the American holds when the Cxech nets.  3:18PM Muchova* 6-2, 1-6, 3-2 Gauff Link copied to clipboard Clenched fist from Muchova as she holds to 15 with no dramas. 3:15PM Muchova 6-2, 1-6, 2-2 Gauff* Link copied to clipboard Problems for Gauff as Muchova takes control and places a forehand carefully into the, 0-30. Another error by Gauff and it is 15-40. Good anticipation by Gauff to read Muchova’s forehand and finish with a volley winner. Timely unreturned first serve makes it deuce. Shocking volley miss by Muchova and Gauff escapes. Coco Gauff hits a backhand Credit: Marko Djurica/Reuters 3:09PM This could be an extraordinary decider Link copied to clipboard It felt like Gauff was a bit off her level in the first, and then it flipped round and Muchova struggled in the second. If both can show the level of tennis they are capable of, this could be an extraordinary decider. 3:08PM Muchova* 6-2, 1-6, 2-1 Gauff Link copied to clipboard Racket clap from Gauff after Muchova drills a backhand winner down the line, 40-15. Groans from the home when Gauff nets a backhand and allows Muchova to hold.  3:05PM Muchova 6-2, 1-6, 1-1 Gauff* Link copied to clipboard Gauff moves quickly to 40-0 but a sliced backhand makes it 40-30. Gauff drop shot drags Muchova to the net, Muchova digs out a backhand and Gauff lobs her. Muchova gets back and puts up a lob herself, Gauff lets the ball bounces and fires the overhead long, deuce. How big a miss could that be? Not big in the end as two errors by Muchova gifts the game to Gauff. 2:59PM Third Set: Muchova* 6-2, 1-6, 1-0 Gauff Link copied to clipboard I’d say this is anyone’s match at this stage. Very hard to call. Two blow-out sets and a dramatic third? Let’s find out! Muchova stops the rot and holds to love. 2:53PM Muchova 6-2, 1-6 Gauff* Link copied to clipboard Muchova’s form has gone AWOL in this set. An ace from Gauff makes it 30-0. Wild return by Muchova and it is three set points. Muchova backhand return long and Gauff takes the set. Gauff left the court after the first set. Now Muchova departs for a break. Coco Gauff won the second set Credit: Ben Whitley/PA 2:50PM Muchova* 6-2, 1-5 Gauff Link copied to clipboard Point of the match as Gauff turns defence into offence and finishes with a backhand volley winner, 15-30. Gauff is getting a lot of joy at the net.  Gauff looks to come in again, this time behind a good forehand approach and Muchova sends her forehand long, 30-40. Gauff tries to get Muchova on the run but the Czech stays composed, and the error comes. Another break point chance as Gauff finishes with a volley winner. Muchova’s forehand long and Gauff does get the double break. What a set for the American. 2:43PM Muchova 6-2, 1-4 Gauff* Link copied to clipboard Lovely rally, both players slicing there way through the point until Muchova finishes with a forehand winner, 15-30. Big forehand by Gauff is too much for Muchova, 30-30. Ambitious backhand down the line by Muchova is wide now, 40-30. But Gauff can’t get out of the game after miscuing a forehand. Forehand error by Muchova and Gauff extends her lead. 2:39PM The momentum has shifted Link copied to clipboard The momentum of the first set has completely turned at the start of the second. From Gauff’s two aces in the opening service game, it is now Muchova making more mistakes, and finding winners harder to come by. 2:38PM Muchova* 6-2, 1-3 Gauff Link copied to clipboard Backhand long by Muchova, 0-30. Then she puts a forehand into the tramlines. Three break points. Big chance for Gauff now. Another deep Muchova forehand catches the baseline and disrupts Gauff’s shot, 15-40. Gauff forehand into the net, 30-40. One more chance... Muchova drop shot, Gauff races up to the ball and whips a backhand cross court winner into the corner. Gauff breaks. Game on! A very warm day on Centre Court Credit: Andrew Couldridge/Reuters 2:33PM Muchova 6-2, 1-2 Gauff* Link copied to clipboard Probably Gauff’s best service game of the match as she holds to love and marches to her chair. If she can just put together an error free return game... 2:31PM Muchova* 6-2, 1-1 Gauff Link copied to clipboard Gauff’s forehand continues to be hit and miss. She puts herself in a good position with a forehand return but then wildly strikes another long. It is proving costly and allowing Muchova to avoid trouble. But good attacking play earns Gauff a break point as she finishes with an angled volley winner. Head in hands moment for Gauff as she shanks a forehand high and wide. More frustration for Gauff as she approaches the net and puts a volley long. Might need to start calling Muchova, Houdini. Gauff hits a forehand return to Muchova Credit: Kin Cheung/AP 2:23PM Second Set: Muchova 6-2, 0-1 Gauff* Link copied to clipboard This position will not be unfamiliar to Gauff has been forced to play three sets in her last four matches. If she wants to win, she will have to do it again. She holds to 15 with a swinging second serve ace.  2:21PM ‘Muchova has a huge advantage’ Link copied to clipboard Muchova has a huge advantage in this match after just 39 minutes, but one of the players seemed to ask for the height of the net to be checked in the break between the first and second set. Gauff has, perhaps unsurprisingly, gone off court, while Muchova holds an ice pack to her head to try and cool down. 2:17PM Muchova* 6-2 Gauff Link copied to clipboard Chance for Gauff to make a good start but she nets a simple volley. But her seventh winner for the match makes it 15-30. Muchova finds the line with a brilliant backhand down the line, 30-30.  Defensive Gauff backhand long and Muchova earns a set point. Muchova ace to finish in style. 2:12PM Muchova 5-2 Gauff* Link copied to clipboard 10 unforced errors is proving the difference for Gauff. Not making enough first serves either, just 58 per cent so far. She finally stops the bleeding here to make Muchova serve for the set but the Czech has been in complete control so far. The cheers greeting that hold from Coco Gauff were a touch more muted than they might have been if the scoreline was a touch closer. Muchova has just been unflappable and shows no sign of the occasion getting to her at all. 2:07PM Muchova* 5-1 Gauff Link copied to clipboard Chance for Gauff again as Muchova slices a backhand into the net, 0-30. Good dig by Gauff to reach a net cord and Muchova flicks a forehand volley wide, 0-40. Muchova saves the first two. Then the third when Gauff’s backhand is long. Muchova once again survives that scare to hold and move to a game away from the set. 1:58PM Muchova 4-1 Gauff* Link copied to clipboard The previous game should give Muchova so much confidence and she shows it with a lovely sliced backhand drop shot, 0-30. Gauff responds with a forehand winner down the line. Muchova’s return catches the bare patch on the baseline and catches out Gauff. Muchova then puts away a forehand, two break points. Gauff saves the first. But not the second. Muchova makes Gauff play an extra ball, lifting up a tough lob and Gauff’s overhead smash is long. Muchova breaks. There is a moment when a player is about to serve where it feels like the whole court is still - that is apart from the fans unlucky enough to be sat in the sun who are waving their fans constantly to try and keep cool. It is hot on Centre Court, and there is very little breeze to offer any respite. 1:55PM Muchova* 3-1 Gauff Link copied to clipboard Back comes Gauff as she attacks the net and put away the volley, 0-30. Muchova forehand into the net, 15-40. Muchova saves them both as Gauff makes back-to-back unforced errors. Another forehand into the tramlines and Muchova backs up the break. Karolina Muchova made a strong start Credit: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images 1:49PM Muchova 2-1 Gauff* Link copied to clipboard Problems for Gauff as Muchova hits a backhand winner down the line and then the American double faults, 15-40. The serve can be a problem at times. Gauff saves the first. Mis-hit Muchova return and Gauff doesn’t hit her reply cleanly and the ball is into the net. Muchova breaks. 1:45PM Muchova* 1-1 Gauff Link copied to clipboard Just one first serve in from Muchova in this game but Gauff can’t take advantage and the Czech holds to 15. Attacking the second serve will be key for Gauff. 1:40PM First Set: Karolina Muchova 0-1 Coco Gauff* (*denotes server) Link copied to clipboard Muchova coped very well with the power from Osaka on Tuesday. Gauff will need to limit the number of unforced errors she hits to be successful today. Great speed by Gauff to get up to a Muchova drop shot and she puts away a backhand for a winner. Muchova return into the net and Gauff completes a very good start. 1:37PM Here we go! Link copied to clipboard The players are out. The warm-up is done. A place in the Wimbledon final awaits.   1:26PM Some Muchova facts Link copied to clipboard Making 7th main draw showing at Wimbledon, and has reached the semi-finals here for the first timeHer previous best Wimbledon finishes were quarter-finals in 2019 (beaten by Svitolina) and 2021 (beaten by Kerber) With her result this fortnight, she has now made the semi-finals or better at all four grand slam events She has become the fourth woman competing for Czech Republic in the open era to make the last four at all four grand slam events after Hana Mandlikova, Jana Novotna and Karolina Pliskova Contesting her 28th Grand Slam main draw; she has reached one grand slam final at 2023 Roland Garros (beaten Swiatek)This is her 5th career grand slam semi-final - her 3 further grand slam semi-final all came on hard court at 2021 Australian Open (beaten by Brady), 2023 US Open (beaten by Gauff) and 2024 US Open (beaten by Pegula) 1:16PM Hoping for less drama today Link copied to clipboard Last time Gauff and Machova played each other in a grand slam semi-final, there was a 45-minute delay due to a protester gluing their feet to the cement floor. Last time Coco Gauff faced Karolina Machova in a slam semifinal there was a 45 min delay due to a protestor gluing their feet on the cement floor (2023 US Open) pic.twitter.com/JcDXeP8pMM — asud (@asud683385) July 9, 2026 1:02PM Women’s semi-final day Link copied to clipboard Hello and welcome to coverage from Wimbledon on women’s semi-final day. Our opening match is Coco Gauff vs Karolina Muchova on Centre Court. For the ninth successive year, there will be a first-time women’s champion. World No 7 Gauff, the highest seed left, is ‌the only one of ‌those left standing who even knows what ⁠it is like to lift a Grand Slam trophy - having done so at the US and French Opens. But even she is surprised with her run to the Wimbledon semis as she had been left scarred following her poor showings on turf in recent years. “If you told me I would be in the semis ... I’d be, ‘You’re funny’. Especially ... the last two ⁠years not winning anything on here,” said the 22-year-old American who has been a regular visitor to Wimbledon since 2019 when she beat Venus Williams in the first round as a 15-year-old schoolgirl. “Do I feel like Wimbledon is part of my destiny? If you asked me seven days ago, the answer would have been no. Honestly, I was writing it off a little bit. “But I hope it is part of my destiny, whether it’s this year or in ​the future. I definitely would love to see my name on the champions’ ‌wall, for sure.” Gauff holds a psychological 6-1 advantage over 10th seed Muchova going into the match. Muchova produced a classy display to beat Naomi Osaka on Tuesday and should be a tough test for Gauff. “Well, she is just, like, great athlete overall,” Muchova said. “One of the best in the world, in our sport. It was tough to play against her. I’m happy we have 0-0 on the grass. That’s a bit better balance for me there. “Yeah, I mean, she gives you a lot of balls back. She has a lot of weapons. She is big fighter, which as well gives a lot of, yeah, things to her game to make it awkward for me.”