Tennis
Wimbledon rivals at a loss to explain Czech ‘tradition’ at SW19
One of Linda Noskova or Karolina Muchova will become the third Czech woman in four years to win Wimbledon on Saturday, but neither can explain the “tradition” in SW19.
Ninth seed Noskova and Muchova put their friendship to one side to battle on Centre Court for the Venus Rosewater Dish and aim to follow in the footsteps of compatriots Barbora Krejcikova and Marketa Vondrousova, who were crowned champions in 2024 and 2023.
An incredible run of triumphant Czech players at the All England Club does not end there, though, with Petra Kvitova a two-time winner after Jana Novotna was officially the country’s first female champion here in 1998.
However, perhaps the remarkable connection can be charted back to Prague-born Martina Navratilova, who won the singles title in SW19 on a record nine occasions while representing the United States.
“It’s a tradition at this point,” Noskova said, when quizzed on the topic after a straight-sets win over Marta Kostyuk.
“Grass allows us to kind of use any side of tennis, if it’s serve and volley back in the old days, if it’s slices and volleys in this new era. I would say that we have all these sides that we can use that grass allows us and it’s showing.
“We have so many tennis schools in Czech, even though we’re such a small country. We have so many great coaches that have been working with the greatest players worldwide.
“I really don’t know. If I knew, I guess all the other countries would have been doing the same thing. I’m proud of our country for having all these great champions.”
Muchova battled through a roller-coaster semi-final with Coco Gauff and survived match point before she triumphed a 6-2 1-6 7-6 (12/10) score.
Eight years older than Noskova and a runner-up at the French Open three years ago, not even Muchova can explain the Czech dominance at Wimbledon before a final against her Olympics doubles partner.
World number nine Muchova said: “It’s nice to get that question because it’s so good for the sport in our country.
“We are such a small country. We have great history of Czech tennis. Definitely the fact that there is so many of us.
“Myself, when I was younger, looking up to the girls who were like maybe five years older than I was, you can just see them doing so well so it gave me the belief that I can do it as well.
“It’s nice that we’re from such a small country and we have so many good players.”
Muchova and Noskova practised on Centre Court on Thursday ahead of their maiden appearance at the venue and one of them will win a first grand slam in their second match in the historic arena.
“As a kid, I had no idea how special this tournament was,” Noskova, 21, said.
“With Karolina actually, we had a warm-up there and it was my first-ever time being there not even as a spectator, so it was a nice moment.
“But I would say I have not even realised it still because I was focusing on the match. Now I’m focusing on the next match! Like I said, after the whole tournament finishes, I guess I will have to look at the photos to believe all this.”
