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Paolini ends her Swiatek losing streak

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Jasmine Paolini called a halt to her six-match loss streak against Iga Swiatek, with the Italian rising to the occasion in the Wuhan Open quarter-finals for a 6-1, 6-2 trip into the semis.

The thrashing of the former world No. 1 Pole brought revenge to Paolini after losing twice this season to Swiatek.

Two-time Grand Slam finalist Paolini broke six times as she dominated second seed Swiatek with a breakthrough result in just 66 minutes.“Finally I won a match, I’m super happy about my level. Just feels amazing.”

Paolini got away to a quick start, earning a 4-0 lead on her way to the 26-minute first set, where she kept her unforced error count to just one.

In the second, the 29-year-old moved to 4-1 as she recovered from a break before wrapping up business on her first match point.

Paolini notched her 41st match win of the season and moved into a semi-final against Coco Gauff after the American lost just three games in a defeat of Laura Siegemund.

She broke her German opponent five times.

“It was a pretty straightforward match,” the winner said. “She’s a tricky and tough player, but I thought that I did well being patient and waiting for opportunities.”

Jessica Pegula dropped the first set to qualifier Katerina Siniakova but stormed back for a 2-6, 6-0, 6-3 victory, her seventh consecutive three-set match.

The American now faces top seed Aryna Sabalenka, who won her 20th match at the event and is moving towards a possible fourth consecutive trophy here.

She beat fellow former Grand Slam champion Elena Rybakina 6-3, 6-3.

“We have a really huge history against each other,” the winner said. “Always great battles, always push me to the limit to get the win.”

Her record against Pegula is a formidable 8-2, with four wins in the series over the past two seasons.

Pegula finished her upset of Swiatek in 96 minutes and was pleased with her effort.

“I guess I’m in really good shape. I definitely don’t think I need to play anymore matches or work on any physical stuff because I’ve been able to battle through these matches and play really well. 

“I wish maybe it was more straightforward for my mental and physical sake, but if I win every match for the rest of my life in three sets, I think I’d be pretty happy.”

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Noskova cracks Wimbledon’s Czech-mate stalemate

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Linda Noskova went through the wringer in a dramatic Wimbledon final before finally lifting the trophy over Karolina Muchova 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 in an all-Czech showdown on the grass.

The match looked done and dusted early on, with the 21-year-old Noskova leading 6-2, 5-2 and looking ready to wrap up the first major title of her career.

But Muchova, 29, had something to say, saving five match points over the course of a five-game winning run which took more than half an hour and carried the final into a deciding set.

Noskova went into the changeover wondering what had gone wrong when she had the match nearly in hand.

The Championships Wimbledon 2026 Day 13 11/07/2026
Linda Noskova (CZE) wins Ladies singles final beating compatriot Karolina Muchova (CZE) in three sets. Photo:- Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd

The ninth seed regained her poise in the third set, taking a 4-1 lead  and finally closed out the biggest victory of her career nearly 90 minutes after earning her first match point, pounding over a service winner.

The Czech plunged to the grass on her back, disbelieving what had just occurred..

Her win marked the third Czech woman to lift the trophy from the past four Wimbledon editions after 2023 titlist Marketa Vondrousova and 2024 winner Barbora Krejcikova.

While tears were to be expected from the runner-up, the same applied to the winner as Noskova recalled her late mother during the trophy ceremony.

“This was incredible”, the winner said, “These matches are so physically and mentally tough. It’s not easy to win the last point.

“She really made me work for it. I’m glad I could play my first Grand Slam final with you,” she told her defeated opponent..

“I think we made history today.”

The last Wimbledon countrywoman final came in 2009, when Serena Williams beat her sister Venus.

“I don’t cry normally, this is not OK for me,” Noskova said, adding: “”There’s also one more person I would like to thank, which is my Mum. I would definitely would not be standing here without her so thank you. 

“I have been enjoying these two weeks so much, all the sad tears, the happy tears, the sweat and blood going into this.
“It was all worth it, so I will definitely never forget these two weeks.”

Muchova was equally emotional after fighting hard in the second set. After jokingly referring to Noskova as “my ex-friend,’ she vowed to work even harder in her care.

“It’s really tough to find any words.  You’re so young, the way you handled your first Grand Slam final and how you played was unbelievable”

She called her winning opponent “a very kind person and human being – congrats to you and your team

“I’m glad to be standing here even though I’m pretty disappointed,” Muchova confessed.

“I want this trophy and hope to get to the final again.”

Noskova is the youngest Wimbledon champion since her fellow Czech Petra Kvitova in 2011, who won that year’s title aged 21 years, 116 days old.

Main photo:-Linda Noskova with Venus Rosewater Plate after winning Ladies Singles Final- by Roger Parker / ISF Ltd

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Noskova sets up all-Czech Wimbledon final

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Linda Noskova will put her ingrained superstitions to the test as she faces off on Saturday for the Wimbledon title against Czech compatriot Karolina Muchova thanks to a 6-4, 6-3 semi-final defeat of Marta Kostyuk.

The Thursday victory in 81 minutes set up the first all-countrywoman battle in a Grand Slam final since the 2017 US Open (USA – Sloane Stephens d. Madison Keys).

Noskova was reluctant to go into her little habits, but after coaxing during the on-court interview, she did reveal a few:

“I have the same routine every morning, almost the same lunch. I use the same bathroom stall and the same sink… the same everything. I won’t be changing.

Muchova booked a duplicate first-ever spot in the final of a major a she outlasted double Grand Slam champion Coco Gauff 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (10).

The Championships Wimbledon 2026 Day 11 Linda Noskva (CZE) wins Ladies semi Final beating Marta Kostyuk (UKR) in straight sets by:- Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd

Gauff was surprisingly upbeat after exiting. “At the end of the day, I left it all out there. My only regret.. it’s just points I want to make better decisions on.”But that’s how you learn and become a better player. There’s a lot of positives. Obviously got super close.

“I’m definitely going to think about the second, third, last point, whatever, but overall I think it was a positive tournament for me.

“A match for sure to remember. It’s tough to digest, but I’m happy.”

Noskova reached a Grand Slam final on her 16th appearance at a major. She advanced on her second match point as Kostyuk drove a return wide.

“I tried to be as patient as possible, keep cool and somehow get the last point,” Novkova said. 

“I always just focus on myself and my game, that’s when I play the best. When I do that I can play with the best in the world and have a great result – which is the final of a Grand Slam.”

The last Czech to win the title here was Barbora Krejcikova in 2024.

Main photo :- Linda Noskova celebrates – by Roger Parker / ISF Ltd

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Bad Homburg

Muchova manages her nerves to defeat Gauff

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Karolina Muchova kept a grip on her nervous energy in a taut third-set tiebreak to upset Coco Gauff 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (10) to reach the Wimbledon final on Thursday.

The Czech whose career has been blighted by various injuries, will play for Grand Slam honors on Saturday against the winner from Marta Kostyuk and Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic.

Muchova came through on her second match point in the 10-point final-set tiebreaker as Gauff hit the net with a running forehand return after nearly two and three-quarter hours.

The semi-final was played one one of the hottest days of this heatwave fortnight, with temperatures in the lower 30s Celsius.

Muchova appeared to occasionally be favouring her right abdomen but said it was no cause for concern.

The 29-year-old 10th seed will be playing the biggest match of her career in the final after having won two of her three career titles this season at Doha and Bad Homburg.

“It sounds really nice to hear being in the final,” the winner said. “It was such a big fight, a roller-coaster.

“You are up , then down, match point up then match point down. I had no time to think, it was very nerve-wracking.

“I don’t know what I’m saying right now, I’m shaking. I’m just trying to take it all in.”

Muchova advanced to the title match with 31 winners and 32 unforced errors while two-time Grand Slam winner Gauff had 32 and 35.

Muchova, who had a training hit with good friend and fellow semi-finalist Noskova, was playing her first-ever match on Centre Court.

“Not so many players get to play here,” she said. “It has such a history in our sport.”

The Czech challenger improved to 6-0 in tiebreaks during 2026. She has won all three combined matches she has played against Kostyuk (2-0) and compatriot Noskova (1-0). 

Main photo:- Karolina Muchova celebrates by Roger Parker / ISF ltd

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