Osaka’s Wimbledon dreams ended by impressive Muchova

Osaka’s Wimbledon dreams ended by impressive Muchova as Gauff reaches semis Last updated 07 July 2026 6:29pm 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 Naomi Osaka was unable to replicate her display against Aryna Sabalenka Credit: Kin Cheung/AP Sonia Twigg Women's Sport Reporter. Eugene Allen live updates, at Wimbledon Last updated 07 July 2026 6:29pm 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 Naomi Osaka’s impressive run at Wimbledon came to a dramatic halt after a straight-sets defeat to Karolina Muchova. Against Aryna Sabalenka on Centre Court on Sunday, Osaka delivered a masterclass, forcing the world No 1 off her game. But one round later, it was a very different story.  On No 1 Court in the quarter-finals, after a close first set, Osaka faded as the match went on. She was only able to carve out a single break point in the second set, while her unforced error count, for the set, stood at double the number of winners. As Muchova sealed the match with back-to-back aces and then proclaimed her love of grass, she laid down a marker to the rest of the players in the draw, becoming the seventh different Czech woman to reach the semi-finals this century. “I played three times on this court and it was 0-3 so not in a good relationship with this court, but I’m super happy we finally made it today and got that win,” Muchova said after her 7-6, 6-4 victory. Osaka has caught the attention with a series of eye-catching outfits she has worn onto the court at this year’s majors and started off her Wimbledon run with a kimono-style ensemble. Coco Gauff stunned after reaching first Wimbledon semi-finalBy Sonia Twigg Coco Gauff is through to her first Wimbledon semi-final Credit: Marko Djurica/Reuters Coco Gauff was in such disbelief at reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals for the first time in her career that upon winning match point she turned to her box asking “how” such a feat had occurred. Jessica Pegula was always going to be a difficult opponent and Gauff had to battle back time and time again, overcoming a series of unforced errors and double faults to take the match 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. In 2019 Gauff – then still known at Cori – became the youngest player to come through qualifying to reach the Championships aged just 15, then beat Venus Williams on her way to reaching the fourth round. Since then however, SW19 has not been a happy hunting ground for her. She reached the fourth round on two other occasions in 2021 and 2024, but alongside that were two first-round exits including in 2025. “I really wanted to make the quarter-finals here, just because I hadn’t done that before,” Gauff said. “Once I got through that, I felt like a load of pressure was lifted. “Today I came into the match and wasn’t even nervous honestly until the match point. I think I was nervous on match point. But before that, I wasn’t really nervous, because I just feel like regardless of how this tournament ends, I think I learned a lot, so much from it. It can set myself up for having success here in the future.” Ridiculous movement from Coco Gauff to win this point. pic.twitter.com/l06mIxqDg1 — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 7, 2026 In her previous match, Gauff was racing against the clock to get her win over Belinda Bencic over the line before Wimbledon’s strict 11pm cut off, but in the heat of the day against Pegula, it was not a straightforward contest. Gauff motored to a 40-0 lead in the opening service game, only to follow that up with two double faults and eventually a break for Pegula. That chaotic four minutes set the tone for the early stages of the match where the unforced error count raced into double figures, while even by the end of the opening set, there were only nine winners in total. Gauff’s statistics were by far the more inconsistent of the pair, hitting 6 winners to 17 unforced errors, including four double faults, but as Pam Shriver said on BBC 5 Live, she does not mind “winning ugly”. When asked about her pointed question to her box, who had stood to applaud her, she said: “If you told me I would be in the semis of this tournament, I’d be [like] ‘you’re funny’. Especially like my match in Berlin, the match last year here, the last two years just not winning anything on here. I think it was just more like how too just because so many three-setters, and it’s like how am I getting out of these matches, just winning them.” It was with a touch of irony that when Gauff did break in the second set, it was as a result of a double fault by Pegula. It was only her second of the match, while Gauff had made six, but it proved the deciding moment in the second set, after which the score was levelled. Pegula will be left lamenting what could have been, having had the chance to put herself on track for a win in two sets, she allowed Gauff the time and opportunities to raise her level. Once she had found it, there was no letting go. Including one memorable rally in the decider where Gauff sent Pegula sprinting from side to side and eventually to the net which she ran into after failing to reach a perfectly-weighted backhand drop shot. As the match was drawing to a thrilling conclusion, both players were sent scampering to the net, baseline and back again, but it was Pegula who put an attempted winner wide. She could only stand for a moment by the umpire’s chair afterwards, but had to reset and serve to stay in the contest. In the end, it was Gauff who stood there with arms aloft celebrating reaching the semi-finals in front of her box. Latest updates Sonia Twigg Women's Sport Reporter. Eugene Allen live updates, at Wimbledon 6:06PM Czech dominance at Wimbledon Link copied to clipboard 7 - Czech Republic is the Nation with the most Women's Singles semi-finalists in Wimbledon in 2000s, one more than the second-best in that span, the United States of America with six. Gang.#Wimbledon | @Wimbledon @WTA pic.twitter.com/9L4JhUFKhv — OptaAce (@OptaAce) July 7, 2026 6:02PM First Wimbledon semi for Muchova Link copied to clipboard The Magnificent Muchova ⭐️ Karolina reaches her first Wimbledon semi-final 🇨🇿#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/EJfRzudKvR — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 7, 2026 5:59PM Coco Gauff up next for the Czech Link copied to clipboard Muchova will play American seventh seed Coco Gauff in the semi-finals after Gauff came through her quarter-final against compatriot and fourth seed Jessica Pegula in three sets. Coco Gauff is through to her first Wimbledon semi-final Credit: Tolga Akmen/Shutterstock 5:52PM Game. Set. Match: Muchova! Link copied to clipboard Muchova, serving for the match, sees an Osaka return sail wide. Osaka then goes long with an attempted lob. 30-0. A T-serve ace brings up three match points. Muchova wins it, sealing victory with a seventh ace. That was very good from the Czech 10th seed. Karolina Muchova served seven aces en route to victory Credit: Adrian Dennis/Getty Images 5:48PM *Osaka 6-7, 4-5 Muchova Link copied to clipboard After trading the first two points, Osaka crushes a forehand down the line for 30-15. She then goes long from the same wing before delivering her eighth ace for 40-30.  A double fault moves the score to deuce. Ace number nine brings up advantage. Another double fault takes us back to deuce. Osaka then nets a forehand from the baseline to give Muchova a break point. Osaka saves it as a Muchova goes wide with a backhand slice. Anothe break point for Muchova, as Osaka nets a forehand. And Muchova breaks as Osaka goes wide with a drive-volley. 5:42PM Osaka 6-7, 4-4 Muchova* Link copied to clipboard Muchova wins the opening point before going long with a forehand from the baseline. An ace then moves the score to 30-15. Osaka gets to 30-30 with forehand winner but is unable to get a return into play in the next point. 40-30. Muchova closes out the game with an ace. 5:37PM *Osaka 6-7, 4-3 Muchova Link copied to clipboard Osaka nets a backhand from the baseline. 0-15. A looping forehand from Muchova lands out before Osaka throws in error from the same wing after being rushed on her baseline. Two good first deliveries get Osaka to 40-30 and the Japanese holds. An ace to close out like in the previous game. 5:34PM Osaka 6-7, 3-3 Muchova* Link copied to clipboard Muchova gives Osaka the runaround at 15-0 before going up 30-0. The Czech then throws in a lob to move 40-0 ahead before closing out the game with an ace. 5:30PM *Osaka 6-7, 3-2 Muchova Link copied to clipboard Osaka starts off with a ferocious backhand winner before spraying a drive-volley long. A Muchova error sees the score to move to 30-15. An ace brings up two game points.  Osaka holds to 30. 5:27PM Osaka 6-7, 2-2 Muchova* Link copied to clipboard Muchova goes wide with a forehand from the baseline. A nice forehand drop shot gets Muchova on the board at 15-15. Two good first serves get Muchova to 40-15 and the Czech holds, closing out the game with a forehand winner. 5:23PM *Osaka 6-7, 2-1 Muchova Link copied to clipboard Osaka nets a short drive-volley for 0-15 and then double-faults. 0-30. A big forehand from Osaka gets her to 15-30 and then 30-30 as Muchova nets from the same wing.  An ace brings up game point but Muchova comes up a with a return winner to move to deuce. Forehand volley error from Muchova gives Osaka advantage. The Japanese then goes wide with a backhand from the baseline before delivering a strong first serve. Back to deuce following another error from Osaka.  Muchova then goes big with a forehand return winner. Osaka saves break point, then gets to advantage as Muchova nets from the baseline. Osaka holds. 5:17PM Osaka 6-7, 1-1 Muchova* Link copied to clipboard At 15-0, a backhand winner from Muchova earns applause from Osaka. The Czech then moves to 40-0 before sealing the game to love with an ace (her second of the contest). 5:14PM Second set: *Osaka 6-7, 1-0 Muchova Link copied to clipboard Osaka, fresh from a bathroom break, quickly gets to 40-0 before netting a short forehand for 40-15.  The Japanese holds to 15 to get things started in set two. 5:09PM Muchova wins first-set tie-break 7-4 Link copied to clipboard Muchova wins the first point as Osaka nets on return. 0-1. Czech gets the first mini break after drawing an error from Osaka. 0-2. Osaka gets on the board with a winner. 1-2. Muchova moves ahead as an Osaka forehand goes long. 1-3. A good T-serve is returned out by Osaka. 1-4. Osaka goes long with a forehand. 1-5. Muchova hits a forehand wide. 2-5. Osaka goes long with a forehand return. 2-6. Backhand-pass keeps Osaka involved. 3-6. Muchova nets a forehand on the run. 4-6. Czech closes out with a forehand winner. Brilliant first set from the Czech 10th seed! Karolina Muchova celebrates after winning the opening set  Credit: Mike Egerton/PA Photo 5:02PM *Osaka 6-6 Muchova Link copied to clipboard Osaka races to a 30-0 lead before seeing a backhand sail beyond Muchova’s baseline. The Japanese then nets a backhand as Muchova gets a look at 30-30. A good body serve sets up the point nicely for Osaka who moves 40-30 ahead and she holds, closing with a forehand winner down the line. Tie-break we go! 4:57PM Osaka 5-6 Muchova* Link copied to clipboard Muchova nets a backhand and then gets passed as Osaka shows off her incredible footspeed.  Osaka then nets a backhand from the baseline and then goes long from the same wing as the score moves to 30-30. Muchova gets a bit of fortune after finishing a serve-volley play with a lucky net cord. A deep return from Osaka sees Muchova net a forehand. The Czech double-faults before ripping a winner from the baseline to go to deuce. Osaka returns long but then gets back to deuce after drawing an error from Muchova. The Czech just about puts away an overhead – Osaka got a racket on the ball – before eventually holding as Osaka goes wide with a return. 4:49PM *Osaka 5-5 Muchova Link copied to clipboard Osaka, serving to stay in the first set, quickly gets to 30-0 after a couple of errors from Muchova. A good T-serve then brings up three game points for the Japanese. Muchova gets on the board after drawing an error from Osaka but Osaka is able to close out the game with her fifth ace. 4:46PM Osaka 4-5 Muchova* Link copied to clipboard Osaka starts with a backhand pass. Muchova levels after finding her spot with a good first serve. Osaka then goes wide with a forehand-cross. Serve out wide is returned out by Osaka on the stretch. And another wide serve secures the game for Muchova. Another good hold from the 10th seed.  4:43PM *Osaka 4-4 Muchova Link copied to clipboard Muchova goes long with a forehand return. Osaka then demonstrates her patience and court craft, finishing the point with a backhand winner. Muchova crushes a forehand down the line for a clean winner. Osaka throws down a strong first serve for 40-15 and then goes long with a forehand. The Japanese holds to 30. 4:38PM Osaka 3-4 Muchova* Link copied to clipboard Muchova registers her quickest service game, holding to love to move ahead in this first set. 4:36PM *Osaka 3-3 Muchova Link copied to clipboard Muchova goes wide with forehand return and then sees a shot from the same wing land in Osaka’s tramline. A nice angled backhand volley gets the Czech to 30-15 before more crafty net play draws her level at 30-30. Muchova then puts away a forehand volley for 30-40.  Osaka saves break point and then gets to advantage before closing out the game. Stepped things up on serve to hold there. 4:31PM Osaka 2-3 Muchova* Link copied to clipboard Two errors from Osaka see Muchova quickly get to 30-0. Osaka gets on the board at 30-15. A good T-serve sets up two game points for Muchova and the 10th seed holds to 15. 4:28PM *Osaka 2-2 Muchova Link copied to clipboard Osaka races to a 30-0 lead before Muchova gets on the board at 30-15.  Osaka then nets from the baseline as the score move to 30-30. Great serve out wide sets up the point nicely for the Japanese, who puts away a forehand for a clean winner. Muchova gets to deuce after drawing an error from Osaka.  Osaka then sprays a forehand wide. Advantage Muchova and Czech breaks back to draw level. 4:23PM Osaka 2-1 Muchova* Link copied to clipboard Muchova serve and volleys, Osaka hustles for the ball and whips a winner down the line to earn the third break in a row. What a start. 4:19PM Osaka* 1-1 Muchova Link copied to clipboard Good response by Muchova as she earns two break points. Sloppy errors from Osaka gifting the Czech a chance to hit back. Osaka saves the first but not the second after pushing a backhand long. 4:15PM First Set: Naomi Osaka 1-0 Karolina Muchova* (*denotes server) Link copied to clipboard Two beautiful winners to open up the match by Osaka. Another deep return and Muchova nets a backhand, two break points. Aggressive forehands by Osaka and Muchova dump a forehand low into the net. Osaka makes an ominous start. 4:12PM Here we go! Link copied to clipboard The Sinner vs Struff appetiser is finished and now we have the main dish! Muchova won the coin toss and opted to serve first. 4:05PM Osaka will be looking to bring this firepower to the match Link copied to clipboard Naomi Osaka: The Queen of the baseline. pic.twitter.com/aVJuB75IPK — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 5, 2026 3:51PM Osaka eyes Wimbledon semi-finals Link copied to clipboard Hello and welcome to coverage from Wimbledon as Naomi Osaka takes on Karolina Muchova for a place in the semi-finals. There were glimpses of the old Osaka in her dominant win over world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the round of 16. The Japanese 14th seed, who is ⁠making headlines with her fashion at Wimbledon, is now being regarded as one of the top picks for the title. The 28-year-old, who last won a Grand Slam in 2021, dominated the serve and her blistering forehands defused the attack of Sabalenka, who had beaten Osaka in three earlier meetings this year. “I thought about it as a practice match. I was just telling myself, like, there’s a really big crowd for this practice match, ​but we’re going to get through it,” said Osaka after reaching the ‌quarter-finals of Wimbledon for the first time. Osaka is up against a player who has now reached the quarter-finals three times, but never gone beyond that at the All England Club. Muchova and Osaka have each won three of their six past matches, with the Czech 10th seed winning their only grass court meeting at the Bad Homburg Open last month. “I think we did a ‌great decision ​that I played two tournaments before Wimbledon ⁠so I get few more matches to feel better on the grass,” Muchova said after knocking out former Wimbledon champion and compatriot Barbora Krejcikova in the round of 16. Asked later about her slightly ‘toned-down’ outfit for her entrance in the previous round, Osaka said: “I actually really wanted to focus on the match. So that was me being very tame. “I kind of want to focus on my tennis now, ‌so I might dial back a little bit.”