Key events<\/p>\n
First set: Kostyuk 2-2 Noskova* (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n
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\u2019s advantage to deuce, but Kostyuk claims the game from her third game point. And some obligatory style notes: Kostyuk, who\u2019s given Naomi Osaka a run for her money as the best-dressed player at this year\u2019s Wimbledon<\/a>, is once again wearing the beautiful lace dress inspired by her own wedding gown. Noskova has gone for a more no-nonsense number.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n First set: Kostyuk* 1-2 Noskova (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Also going on:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n These two, like Muchova and Gauff, are playing in their first Wimbledon<\/a> 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\u2019t want to be a ball in this one. But I think the match is on Kostyuk\u2019s racket, because of her superior athleticism. Can she handle the occasion though? She didn\u2019t 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).<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Right I\u2019m back and I\u2019ve fuelled myself up with coffee to get through the second semi-final \u2013 just in case I don\u2019t 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\u2019t yet reappeared. The stands are virtually empty.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n What a semi-final. The first sets were 6-2 and 6-1 \u2026 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\u2019t be facing a top seed, but Noskova or Kostyuk; at 29, she knows she may never get a better chance.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Muchova, somehow, is still able to speak. \u201cHonestly it was such a big fight, a rollercoaster, match point down, I don\u2019t even know what I\u2019m saying. I\u2019m shaking, but I\u2019m good. The atmosphere here was indescribable. Not many players get to play on this court. It\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Yes, Muchova\u2019s win means we could have a first ever all-Czech final and a sixth Czech-born women\u2019s winner, following on from Navratilova, Novotna, Kvitova, Vondrousova and Krejcikova. Czech players + grass really = the perfect combination.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.31 EDT<\/p>\n Muchova beats Gauff 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (10)!!<\/p>\n \u2026 Gauff doesn\u2019t land her first serve, does her second \u2026 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\u2019s into her first Wimbledon<\/a> final! Muchova has her head in her hands; she can\u2019t believe it. And an absolutely gutted Gauff sprints off court in a fraction of the time that absorbing breaker took. She\u2019ll be haunted by that miss on match point for many sleeps to come.<\/p>\n Karolina Muchova is in to the final! Photograph: Andrew Couldridge\/ReutersKarolina Muchova embraces Coco Gauff at the net after an epic final set. Photograph: Andrew Couldridge\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.28 EDT<\/p>\n \u2026 now Gauff slips, but Muchova was already on top in the point, and the Czech has a second MP at 11-10 \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u2026 Muchova serves, Gauff chops back the return \u2026 Muchova volleys \u2026 Gauff just about gets it back \u2026 and OH MY DAYS! MUCHOVA SLIPS! 10-10 \u2026<\/p>\n Drama! Photograph: Clive Brunskill\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.39 EDT<\/p>\n \u2026 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 \u2026!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u2026 so Gauff, serving at 9-8, has match point \u2026 it\u2019s on her racket and she glides forward to put away a surely unmissable forehand \u2026 and nets! P-R-E-S-S-U-R-E! And they. Go. On. At. 9-9 \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.33 EDT<\/p>\n \u2026 so it\u2019s 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 \u2026!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u2026 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 \u2026!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u2026 Muchova edges ahead for 7-6, an unreturned serve gets Gauff back to 7-7 but Gauff can\u2019t move ahead for the first time in this breaker, as she hits only her second double faults at the most inopportune of moments \u2026 !<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u2026 another Muchova shot hits the tape, but this one doesn\u2019t land in, and from Muchova leading 4-1, they\u2019re level at 6-6 \u2013 AND I DON\u2019T KNOW HOW THEY\u2019RE STILL DOING THIS BECAUSE I CAN BARELY TYPE BECAUSE OF THE TENSION \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u2026 Gauff can\u2019t afford to concede the next two points on her serve, and she executes the perfect pass, before refusing to be distracted by Muchova\u2019s shot clipping the tape as she reduces her arrears to 6-5 \u2026 they\u2019ve saved the best in this match until the very last \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.35 EDT<\/p>\n \u2026 which is soon 4-3. As this is the final set, it\u2019s the first to 10 points, by the way, not seven \u2026 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\u2019s 5-3 \u2026 make that 6-3 after another punchy serve, she\u2019s found her first serve when it matters \u2026<\/p>\n Karolina Muchova falls after hitting a return. Photograph: Adrian Dennis\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.35 EDT<\/p>\n \u2026 she\u2019s 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 \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.02 EDT<\/p>\n \u2026 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!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 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 \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Third set: Muchova* 6-2, 1-6, 6-6 Gauff (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n Muchova, moving a little slower and wincing and bending over after every point, still manages to chase down the drop at 40-30 \u2026 but hits wide. If she makes it through this semi-final, will she be OK for the final? Hopefully it\u2019s just a stitch because of the heat and stress of this situation. Which is about to get a whole load more stressful, because we\u2019ve got ourselves a match tie-break!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Third set: Muchova 6-2, 1-6, 6-5 Gauff* (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n At 0-15, Gauff batters to one corner and then the other for the winner! 0-30 on Muchova\u2019s serve \u2026 Gauff\u2019s return is so close to landing for another winner and three break points \u2026 but it\u2019s just long. A collective Wimblegasp follows and it\u2019s 15-30. A lengthy point follows, forehands, backhands, slicing, dicing, net rushing, volleys, you name it \u2026 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\u2019s wincing in pain and holding her abs; perhaps she\u2019s pulled something. She still manages to take the next point, however, to hold.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.54 EDT<\/p>\n Third set: Muchova* 6-2, 1-6, 5-5 Gauff (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n 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\u2019s been absolutely terrific there in this set. Muchova\u2019s forehand then flies beyond the baseline and. They\u2019re. Level. Once. More.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Third set: Muchova 6-2, 1-6, 5-4 Gauff* (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n At one set all, four games all and 30-all, the stakes couldn\u2019t 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\u2019t 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\u2019t buy a first serve right now, she lands the second \u2026 and Gauff goes edgily wide! And Muchova somehow escapes from there! That game will be keeping Gauff awake tonight if she doesn\u2019t win.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Third set: Muchova* 6-2, 1-6, 4-4 Gauff (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n But now it\u2019s Gauff\u2019s turn to send a statement that she\u2019s not going anywhere: 15-0, 30-0, 40-0. She\u2019s 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 \u2013 Gauff immoveable at the net, Muchova staying in it from the baseline \u2013 until Gauff eventually emerges victorious! Cue one of the biggest cheers from the crowd so far. They don\u2019t want this to end and neither do I.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Third set: Muchova 6-2, 1-6, 4-3 Gauff* (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n Muchova turns up the heat with a commanding hold to 15. Not much more to write here; that was emphatic. Now I\u2019m leaning towards Muchova \u2013 I just can\u2019t make up my mind \u2013 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.<\/p>\n Karolina Muchova with a serve to Coco Gauff. Photograph: Adrian Dennis\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.44 EDT<\/p>\n Third set: Muchova* 6-2, 1-6, 3-3 Gauff (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n 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<\/a> sauna, is covering every blade of grass on the fourth point but a backhand volley from Muchova on the stretch \u2013 those hands! \u2013 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\u2019m going for Gauff, but Muchova hasn\u2019t shown any signs of blinking so far \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Third set: Muchova 6-2, 1-6, 3-2 Gauff* (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n After two one-way sets, here\u2019s hoping this one remains competitive until the very end, but this game has little intrigue, as Muchova eases to 15-0, 30-0, 40-0 and, despite Gauff taking the fourth point, Muchova makes no mistake from there. I feel the closer this gets to the finish line, Gauff is more likely than Muchova to hold her nerve, she\u2019s Serena-like in her mental strength, but she does have the scoreboard pressure on her in this deciding set, serving second.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Third set: Muchova* 6-2, 1-6, 2-2 Gauff (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n The crowd are applauding Muchova\u2019s touch as she drags Gauff one way before pulling off a forehand cross-court pass the other. So it\u2019s 15-all on Gauff\u2019s serve \u2026 and then Muchova rushes forward to put away the short ball. This is the furthest Muchova has advanced on the Gauff serve since midway through the second set and, desperate to take advantage, she moves to 15-40 and two break points, the first big moment of the deciding set. Gauff gets away with an unconvincing drop shot on the first, when Muchova slips! And is more assured on the second, extracting the error from a stinging serve! Deuce. Advantage Gauff. Game Gauff, after a messy miss from Muchova!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.17 EDT<\/p>\n Third set: Muchova 6-2, 1-6, 2-1 Gauff* (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n Muchova doesn\u2019t seem happy with the tension of her racket \u2013 it\u2019s so hot today the balls are flying off it more quickly than normal \u2013 but she still navigates her way to 40-15 and puts the game on her side of the scoreboard when Gauff biffs a backhand into the net. Gauff has a 78% winning percentage in three-set matches at the grand slams, by the way, which is the best among any current players with more than six wins.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Third set: Muchova* 6-2, 1-6, 1-1 Gauff (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n Anything Muchova can do \u2026 Gauff accelerates to 15-0, 30-0, 40-0. But then blinks and it\u2019s 40-30. Gauff should really wrap up the game when she lobs Muchova and has an easy smash \u2026 but she flashes it well wide! Well, well. After the momentum shift in the second set, could this match be about to swing back Muchova\u2019s way? Gauff shows tremendous speed and de-fence to scramble to advantage \u2026 and survives when Muchova nets her return off a wobbly drop shot from Gauff. Muchova should really have done better.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Third set: Muchova 6-2, 1-6, 1-0 Gauff* (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n It\u2019s remarkable to think, given the way Gauff has Gauffed her way back into this with her trademark fight, that she hadn\u2019t won a match on grass in two years before this tournament. Muchova, meanwhile, hadn\u2019t won a single match at Wimbledon<\/a> since 2021, despite twice reaching the quarter-finals before that. But here they now are, giving us a semi-final to remember, and Muchova sends a strong message at the start of the third that she won\u2019t roll over, as she claims a love hold.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Gauff wins the second set 6-1<\/p>\n This second set has basically gone the way the first did \u2013 but with the roles reversed and Gauff unstoppable instead of Muchova. 15-0, 30-0, 40-0, game and set Gauff! Cue a steely stare and a determined fist pump. She\u2019s won four successive three-setters at this Wimbledon<\/a> and now she\u2019s surely the favourite to make it five. Muchova munches on a banana as she walks off court. One of the smartest and canniest players in the women\u2019s game has got plenty to ponder.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Second set: Muchova 6-2, 1-5 Gauff* (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n The serve is usually one of Muchova\u2019s strongest weapons, but her first-serve percentage is still below 50% as she concedes the first point and the third to fall 15-30 down. That third point is one for the highlights reel \u2013 with Gauff finding a brilliant angle on the volley to finish it. 15-30 morphs into 30-40 and Gauff is eyeing a double break. Gauff, slightly off-balance, nets her forehand, though. Before pulling off a fine volley similar to the one at 15-30! So break point No 2. And it\u2019s a case of Czech mate for Muchova as Gauff, giving her little room to breathe, prevails.<\/p>\n Coco Gauff eyes a shot as she roars back to take the second set! Photograph: Tolga Akmen\/EPAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.54 EDT<\/p>\n Second set: Muchova* 6-2, 1-4 Gauff (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n Gauff gains even more control of the second set with a hold from deuce \u2026 absolutely hammering away a smash for her advantage and then rounding things off with an unreturned serve! The tide has turned in Gauff\u2019s favour, as we\u2019ve seen several times before at this tournament, and the break has been backed up.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Gauff breaks: Muchova 6-2, 1-3 Gauff* (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n Gauff, with a bit more zip in her shots now, powers her way to 0-15, 0-30, 0-40. It\u2019s the second time Gauff\u2019s had 0-40 on Muchova\u2019s serve \u2013 can she finally break? Gauff\u2019s forehand loops long on the first break point \u2026 she cracks a forehand into the net on the second \u2026 but Gauff gobbles up the drop shot on the third and fizzes away a wickedly angled backhand winner! At the ninth time of asking, Gauff has converted a break point and she\u2019s roaring into the scorching Wimbledon<\/a> skies!<\/p>\n Karolina Muchova is facing a Gauff fightback in the second set. Photograph: Dave Shopland\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.56 EDT<\/p>\n Second set: Muchova* 6-2, 1-2 Gauff (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n Muchova\u2019s coach, Sven Groeneveld, whose list of former charges includes no less than Monica Seles, Arantxa S\u00e1nchez Vicario, Mary Pierce, Michael Stich, Greg Rusedski and Maria Sharapova, among others, is shouting plenty of instructions to the Czech. But it doesn\u2019t help Muchova much in this game, as Gauff enjoys her most comfortable of the semi-final so far, holding to love.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Second set: Muchova 6-2, 1-1 Gauff* (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n Gauff overcooks a forehand to give Muchova two game points at 40-15, and waves her hand in frustration. Muchova then goes old-school, opting for the serve-volley, but she clunks her volley into the net. It was the right tactic, though, keeping Gauff on her toes. A rare miss from Muchova on the backhand slice and it\u2019s deuce. And then Gauff shows tremendous fight to withstand Muchova\u2019s big hitting and put away a winning backhand volley! A break point for Gauff \u2026 but disappointingly a mis-hit follows. And Muchova makes her way through the next two points to hold.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Second set: Muchova* 6-2, 0-1 Gauff (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n Gauff certainly won\u2019t be pushing the panic button yet. She was two points from defeat in the second round, and came from a set down in the last 16 and quarter-finals, against Belinda Bencic and Jessica Pegula respectively. She\u2019s the ultimate competitor and is brilliant at finding a way to win, even when not at 100%. Against Pegula she turned things around by showing more aggression, especially on her forehand, but in the first game of the second set here it\u2019s her serve that wraps up the hold, with back-to-back aces, the second on a second serve.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Muchova wins the first set 6-2<\/p>\n Gauff has the opening point on her racket when she appears in command at the net \u2026 but she plants her volley into it. 15-0. Gauff comes back at Muchova for 15-30 with a rasping return \u2026 a backhand winner from Muchova and a backhand error from Gauff follow \u2026 and it means Muchova has a set point at 40-30. And she seals it with her first ace! The Czech\u2019s greater variety, despite landing only 41% of her first serves, combined with playing the break points better, has secured the set. And she\u2019s the coolest woman in the (very hot) house as she puts an ice towel on her head at the changeover. Gauff has left the court to figure out how she can turn this around.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n First set: Muchova* 5-2 Gauff (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n With Gauff serving to stay in the first set after less than half an hour, Muchova cuts Gauff up with viciously low slice for 15-all. Gauff gives Muchova a taste of her own crafty medicine for 40-15. But Muchova crushes a winner for 40-30 and extracts the error from Gauff for deuce after some more big hitting! The way Muchova marries power with variety is seriously impressive. A fabulous point follows \u2026 Gauff charging forward, volleying \u2026 and Muchova can\u2019t make up the ground quickly enough to get the ball back. Advantage Gauff. Deuce. Advantage Gauff. Game Gauff. She stops the run of five games against her, but is it too late to save the set?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n First set: Muchova 5-1 Gauff* (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n Hmm. Muchova promptly falls 0-40 down. Call that the commentator\u2019s curse. Though Gauff has also upped her game, suddenly finding a bit more range on her forehand. But here\u2019s another jarring change in momentum, as Muchova makes it back to deuce, courtesy of two winners and a forced error. And the Czech finds a way to hold from there, as Gauff bashes her ninth unforced error. The story of this match so far: Muchova has taken 2\/4 of her break points; Gauff has won 0\/5.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not going Coco Gauff\u2019s way. Photograph: Mike Egerton\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.22 EDT<\/p>\n Muchova breaks: Muchova* 4-1 Gauff (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n The 29-year-old Muchova has managed to reach the semi-finals at the three other slams, and the French Open final in 2023, despite a series of injuries over the years, so she certainly isn\u2019t overawed by this occasion. She shows wonderful disguise with a drop shot \u2013 feigning to unwind with the forehand before dispatching the drop instead \u2013 and she\u2019s got two points at 15-40 for a double break! Gauff survives the first but not the second when she makes an absolute hash of the smash! Masterful from Muchova, as she was against Naomi Osaka in the quarter-finals.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.04 EDT<\/p>\n First set: Muchova 3-1 Gauff* (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n But no sooner does Muchova break, than she\u2019s in danger of being broken herself, when a messy forehand offers Gauff two break points at 15-40. The crafty, creative Czech displays her all-court game to save the first with a winning volley, and Gauff\u2019s forehand return on the second is so mis-hit that it travels nearly as far as a 50-yard Dan Burn header. Deuce. Advantage Muchova. Game Muchova, when Gauff rips a forehand down the line but just misses.<\/p>\n Karolina Muchova lashes a serve to Coco Gauff. Photograph: Brian Inganga\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.03 EDT<\/p>\n Muchova breaks: Muchova* 2-1 Gauff (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n Right on cue, Muchova does just that, to advance to 15-30 on Gauff\u2019s serve. And then a double fault follows, as Gauff hands over two break points. The two shots that can break down in Gauff\u2019s game are the forehand and serve, but then Gauff shows her money shot, the backhand, to save the first break point, as Muchova makes the mistake of going backhand to backhand with the American. But another forehand error follows from Gauff and Muchova already has the break!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n First set: Muchova 1-1 Gauff* (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n There\u2019s so much to like about Muchova\u2019s game, especially on grass, which rewards her canny combination of power, spins and speeds. The Czech again draws Gauff forward with the drop shot \u2026 and this time Gauff nets. That gets Muchova to game point and she also holds to 15, as Gauff errs on her forehand side, a shot that Muchova will surely target today.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n First set: Muchova* 0-1 Gauff (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n Ladies and gentlemen, Gauff will serve first. Ready? Play. Gauff, wearing a pleated dress and sweatband, settles early in her first Wimbledon<\/a> semi-final (this is a first for Muchova too, and the two other semi-finalists Marta Kostyuk and Linda Noskova), already showing off her tremendous athleticism as she rushes forward to the drop shot and batters a backhand down the line for 40-15. Gauff holds from there. An assured start.<\/p>\n Coco Gauff gets to work. Photograph: Andrew Couldridge\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.47 EDT<\/p>\n Gauff does hold a 6-1 lead in their head-to-head, by the way, but I\u2019m not sure we can read too much into that, as none of those matches were on grass. Gauff, arguably the best competitor in the women\u2019s game, has made an art out of \u201cwinning ugly\u201d \u2013 the phrase made famous by her former coach Brad Gilbert \u2013 and has consistently found a way to come through three-setters during this tournament even when she\u2019s not been at her best. She may well need all that fight to combat Muchova\u2019s mix of power and touch \u2013 which is so dangerous on grass \u2013 especially if Gauff\u2019s serve and forehand wobble, as they sometimes do. Gauff\u2019s backhand, though, is brilliant. Will temperament + backhand or power + hands prevail? It\u2019s going to be so fun finding out.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n And here they come to a big cheer from the crowd, not that it\u2019s quite as warm as the red-hot weather, with the current temp around 33C, and not that Gauff can properly hear it either, because she\u2019s got her headphones \u2013 and game face \u2013 on.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.37 EDT<\/p>\n Gauff and Muchova will make their entrance on Centre Court shortly, and suddenly I\u2019m feeling a bit nostalgic, thinking about Gauff\u2019s debut run to the Wimbledon<\/a> fourth round in 2019 as a 15-year-old, and also Muchova\u2019s former coach, the late, great Jana Novotna, who so famously won the title here in 1998 after her tears five years earlier.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Already today: a big upset in the women\u2019s doubles, with the top seeds and 2024 champions, Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, going out in the quarter-finals. The No 1 seeds in the men\u2019s doubles, Britain\u2019s Henry Patten and Finland\u2019s Harri Heliovaara, play in the semi-finals later, while Britain\u2019s Alfie Hewett is already through to the last four of the wheelchair singles.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Today\u2019s women\u2019s semi-finals aren\u2019t yet under way, but we\u2019ve already got the order of play for tomorrow\u2019s men\u2019s semis. Fery will be on first against Alexander Zverev, with Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic to follow. I\u2019m surprised it\u2019s not the other way around \u2013 not only because Fery v Zverev would be seem to be the better match for UK primetime TV, but also because they played their quarter-finals a day later than Sinner and Djokovic.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n When are we going to wake up?!<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Centre Court order of play (from 1.30pm BST)<\/p>\n Karolina Muchova (Czech Republic, 10) v Coco Gauff (US, 7) Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.00 EDT<\/p>\n In the meantime: if you\u2019ve got any questions for our tennis correspondent Tumaini Carayol \u2013 from Fery\u2019s ridiculous run to predictions for the final weekend and whether Britain (Fery aside) is underachieving in the game \u2013 he\u2019s online right now:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.50 EDT<\/p>\n Preamble<\/p>\n Hello! And welcome to women\u2019s semi-finals day, where it\u2019s a case of no Sabalenka, no Rybakina, no Swiatek, no Andreeva, absolutely no problem, because we\u2019ve got two absorbing match-ups: Coco Gauff v Karolina Muchova and Marta Kostyuk v Linda Noskova.<\/p>\n
Marta Kostyuk (Ukraine, 12) v Linda Noskova (Czech Republic, 9)
Followed by mixed doubles final
Marc Polmans & Storm Hunter (Australia) v Marcelo Arevalo (El Salvador) & Jelena Ostapenko (Latvia) (2)<\/p>\n